Survivors of Ulster slave trade speak out

Original article:  Belfast Newsletter 
Written by Philip Bradfield

Ulster is proud of its historic record of barring slave ships from its ports.

But today every town in the province stands accused of complicity in the sexual exploitation of vulnerable foreign women and children. Philip Bradfield reports.

Human trafficking survivors who have escaped their tormentors in Northern Ireland have spoken out about their “degrading and humiliating” ordeal for the first time.

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Promise of a new life turns to misery

“I LIVED in a small village in Bosnia with my mother and my two sisters. I am the eldest daughter. My family is very poor – there is very little work in Bosnia.

I had applied to an advertisement in the newspaper for the job as a housekeeper in UK. I received a quick response, along with travel documents.

At the airport I was greeted by a woman and a man – they told me someone would meet me at my destination. I felt safe and was very excited at having the opportunity to begin a new life in a new country. I met my employer at the airport; he had arranged my passport and my travel documents.

I arrived at my new house and met his wife and two children.Every day of the week I had to work extremely hard, working late into the night. I had no days off or time to myself, I felt exhausted all of the time. I cooked, cleaned and child-minded two children on a daily basis. Included in my employment was walking the children to and from school. This took me approximately two-and-a-half hours a day in total.

Betrayed and Beaten

Within a short time, I realised that I was not paid for the long hard work I had completed. I felt very alone and isolated as I could not speak English. I felt that I was betrayed. I could not send any money home to my family – my employers would not let me use the phone to keep contact with them.

After a few months my employers began to beat me on a regular basis. I felt powerless, I did not know anybody. Most nights I cried myself to sleep, I was so unhappy. My new life was a complete misery. Within a short time, the children I cared for began to treat me badly too. The children screamed abuse towards me and physically struck me. I felt so low and humiliated.

A few years after my arrival, I met a few people when I was out in the park with the children; they spoke the same language as me. I was able to inform these acquaintances that I needed help. They informed the police. I was afraid because my employers had told me not to speak to anyone or they would hurt me. They told me I should me grateful to them for bringing me to this country.

I was rescued by the police. I informed them of all the abuse and misery I had suffered and they took me to a safe place. The people there were kind and allowed me to contact my family. I discovered my mother was ill and that another family member had died. They had been so worried about me. We just cried and cried.

My employers were arrested by the police and for the frst time in four years I felt safe, I am getting help to visit my family. I don’t know whether I want to remain in this country. I don’t think it is right that people can treat other human beings the way I was treated.”

• This woman’s ordeal and rehabilitation took place in Belfast.

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ALSO READ

Survivors of Ulster slave trade speak out

Ulster is proud of its historic record of barring slave ships from its ports. But today every town in the province stands accused of complicity in the sexual exploitation of vulnerable foreign women and children. Philip Bradfield reports.

Orphan is forced into child prostitution

“I WAS the only child in my family and I remembered a very happy childhood. My father was then killed in a bad accident during his employment. My mother and I had no source of income after this accident. We were both devastated.

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WHAT YOU CAN DO

The PSNI says there are brothels in “nearly every town” in Northern Ireland and in all types of rural and urban settings. But ordinary residents can help police build up intelligence on the locations of such women.

Inspector Dougie Grant says the giveaway signs for brothels in all rural or urban communities are:

• Men arriving at a property at all hours of the day and night

• Foreign national females living there who might not often leave the property

• Females may answer the door wearing inappropriate clothing

• There may be a large amount of takeaway food used at the premises

REPORT IT

If you see such signs in your neighbourhood Insp Grant requests that you report it to the PSNI on 0845 600 8000.

Alternatively information can be given anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The News Letter suggests that this list of giveaway signs and the PSNI contact number can be printed out and kept for handy reference.

LEARN ABOUT TRAFFICKING

For more information on trafficking log on to www.blueblindfold