When the woman offered Njida, a 19-year-old Nigerian girl, a safe place to stay, she was grateful. After being abandoned by her parents and witnessing the murder of the woman who raised her, Njida was homeless and in constant fear that her carer’s murderers would come for her. But instead of offering support and refuge, the woman used Njida’s fear and vulnerability to exploit her. Njida was trafficked to the UK, where she was told – as countless other girls have been told – that she must have sex with men for money to pay her traffickers back for the journey. Njida endured months of incredible violence and intimidation before she managed to escape.
Njida’s story is one of many cases dealt with by BAWSO, a Welsh charity that supports BAME victims of abuse including forced marriage, prostitution, and human trafficking. I interviewed Njida’s caseworker before I was elected to public office. Her case, and so many like hers, stays with me. I cannot forget, and we cannot ignore people like Njida.
Every year, an estimated 20 million people are victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. Women and girls are disproportionately affected, accounting for the overwhelming majority of victims of sex trafficking and a significant proportion of forced labour victims.
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