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“ I was living with my family in a village in Nicaragua. We were very poor. An uncle of my friend offered to find me a job as a domestic worker in a rich family in our capital. I would then be able to help my mother financially.  Two months later I found myself sequestered in a brothel in Vancouver. I take drugs to stop thinking. The uncle was part of an international network for the trafficking of women for prostitution.”

Story from Réseau oecuménique justice et paix

“I wanted to get out of Thailand, so when the opportunity came to make lots of money and live in a big city in Canada, I took it.  Upon my arrival at the airport, a group of men met me, took my passport ‘for safe-keeping’, and drove me to a house where there were lots of other young women.  Soon I realized I was trapped.  I couldn’t leave the house and was told I had to pay back $30,000 for my passage.  When I asked how I was to get the money, I was told the only way was for me ‘to service’ men everyday.  For months, I was kept in the locked house, given little food, and escorted daily by force, to a brothel.  One of the men said, “you will do what we tell you if you want your family to live.”  Eventually government officials found and raided the house.  I don’t know what will happen to me now, since I have no official identity.

Story (abbreviated) from the Canadian Red Cross, Vancouver, B.C.

For media coverage of human trafficking stories local to Ottawa, please go to our Media page.