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Faces Behind Atrocity: Stories of Human Trafficking

There are over 40 million slaves in the world today, bringing slaveholders and traffickers about $150 billion annually. With high profits and low risk, the buying and selling of human beings has become the fastest-growing criminal enterprise in the world, surpassing even arms and drug trafficking. How can this be? Modern-day slavery, or human trafficking, exists in every county and under many guises. Issues including extreme poverty, corruption, cultural norms that devalue and commodify woman and children, and an insatiable demand for exploitive sex and cheap labor fuel this crime. It may be hard to accept that this happens in our communities, but we must share the knowledge that this is a reality for far too many victims in order to change it.

Despite increasing efforts and a global movement to raise awareness about the atrocities of human trafficking, many people remain unaware that modern day slavery persists in alarming numbers.

The portraits and collected testimonies are part of an ongoing body of work to tell the stories of the survivors. Faces Behind Atrocity aims to be a tool for advocacy, and learning. The series seeks to engage with an audience to challenge common myths about human trafficking; and foster a dialogue about the root causes.  The project has roots in Nairobi, where local nonprofit HAART Kenya works within national borders to rescue and rehabilitate human trafficking survivors. The series involved seven young women of four different nationalities, ranging in age from 13 to 16 years old. They were rescued from the horrors of the trafficking world and are in various stages of the healing process.  In addition to providing a visual representation of their resilience, beauty, and strength, each survivor recorded a written testimony of how they were led into trafficking and the atrocities they faced.

 In the process, I aim to empower survivors; to tap into the therapeutic power of photography to help survivors in recovery. Early on it became evident, for some, it nurtures their confidence, for others it has given them a feeling of being worthy and valued. The objective is to move away from notions of pity and disempowerment and to portray courage, honesty, beauty and strength. 

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Ash

Ash, a 14-year-old survivor of human trafficking, was trafficked by her aunt as a Child Domestic Worker (CDW). She was on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without a wage or benefits. She worked tirelessly, perfuming domestic chores such as washing dishes, cooking, cleaning, and caring for young children. Throughout her ordeal, Ash was verbally, physically, and sexually abused. Like most CDWs, Ash did not have a work contract, benefits, or access to health services. Many CDWs are sold, trafficked, and work in bondage, without pay.

Amani

“I was 14-years-old when a family friend introduced me to a much older man. This man soon became my husband. I dreamed of attending school but realized my plans for an education was not possible." Child Brides are not physically and emotionally ready to become wives and mothers. Being forced into marriage at such a young age puts them at risk of suffering from domestic violence, contracting STDs, and enduring dangerous pregnancies and childbirth. With little access to education and economic opportunities, they and their families are more likely to live in poverty. When is Child Marriage considered slavery? Child Marriage can be referred to as slavery, if one or more of the following elements are present: • If the child has not genuinely given their free and informed consent to enter the marriage • If the child is being controlled and a sense of being “owned” in the marriage is present. This is seen particularly through verbal, physical, sexual threats, and being forced to undertake domestic chores in and outside of the marital home. • If the child cannot make the choice to leave or end the marriage, leading to a lifetime of slavery.

Shirley

Shirley, a victim of Child Domestic Work (CDW), was rescued from an abusive situation, where she worked long hours and completed heavy work. For this, she did not receive a wage for benefits. Working outside of her home, Shirley was separated from her family for extended periods of time, and under the complete control of her employer. Many CDWs like Shirley are not allowed to go beyond closed doors, except when the employer sends them on errands or brings them along when their services are needed. Isolated from family and peers, they rarely leave, and suffer from many forms of abuse.

Milele

Milele, a 15-year-old survivor of human trafficking, sits for a photo outside her home in Nairobi, where she lives in a shelter for survivors of human trafficking. "I always knew that I had to go through the 'cut'. At age 14, I was forced by my family to go through the 'cut.' I will never forget that day. Soon after I was married off to an old man." Milele currently resides in a safe house where she receives therapy with a psychologist, participants in art therapy and plans to attend school. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is commonly referred to as the 'cut' and is also referred to as "female rite of passage." The "female rite of passage" is thought to elevate a girl from childhood to the status of adulthood. According to the UN, communities that practice FGM report a variety of social and religious reasons for continuing the practice. Seen from a human rights perspective, the practice reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against woman.

Pendo

"I came from a poor family in Tanzania. I knew very early that to get ahead I would need to work hard and going to school was not something I could dream about. When I turned 16 a family friend informed me that I could find work across the border in Kenya. Believing her, two days later I traveled to Kenya with this family friend. However, when I arrived there, I realized that a lot of what I was promised was not true. I was forced to work as a prostitute." Overworked, abused and no money, a year later, she was lucky to find someone that helped her escape.

Tumaini

14-years-old, I met a family friend in Ethiopia. He promised to take me to a good school in Nairobi. A few days later I traveled with this family friend to Nairobi. When I arrived, he took me as his wife.” Every day Tumaini was physically and sexually abused by her husband. After an abusive episode a nurse caring for Tumaini helped her escape. Child marriage disproportionately affects girls around the world, and denies their fundamental rights to health, safety, and education. Girls who are married before the age of 18 are more likely to suffer from intimate partner violence, including sexual, physical, psychological and emotional violence.

Safi

Safi, a 12-year-old girl, sits for a photo outside her home in Nairobi, where she lives in a shelter for survivors of child trafficking. "I was 10 years old and attending fourth grade in Uganda, when my cousin promised I could attend a better school in Kenya. Believing her, I agreed to move there. When I arrived, I was not taken to school but instead I was forced to work as a domestic servant for five men. At the end of each day they beat me and denied me anything to eat. A neighbor helped me get help."

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