LAHORE, February 06 2006: Many smuggled minor girls from Pakistan are forced into prostitution in Middle East in an organised crime.
Some minor girls recently rescued from Middle East by human rights activist Ansar Burney revealed horrifying facts regarding the flesh trade going on in the region.
They said most of their companions belonged to Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Afghanistan and newly independent countries from Russia.
“Most of the victims are between the age of 11 to 13 years and are smuggled to the Arab countries where they are forced into prostitution in Middle East and Arab countries,” one of the victims said and added that on the passports the ages of these girls were shown as 20 to 22 years old.
She said the human traffickers promised a beautiful and bright future and respectable jobs in the Middle East and Arab countries to lure young girls and after reaching abroad these girls are forced into prostitution.
“The traffickers forced the young girls to show themselves as virgins because most of their clients demanded young girls,” said another victim. She said “After arrival and clearance from the airport the traffickers took her passport and forced her physically to do what she was told,” she said. Threats of informing the police and of telling their families were the other tools being used by the traffickers against their sex slaves.
She said threats of violence kept the victims in line and in some cases these threats became reality. Many girls were forced to have abortions and were forced back to work within weeks. She maintained beatings and forced abortions are common in the life of the sex slaves.
“Some of the rich people in these countries like sex with young girls,” she said.
The girls were not allowed to go out without an escort while they were also forced to have sex with the traffickers whenever they wanted, she said. The girls were paid a very little amount while the food being provided to the victims was also very unhygienic, she said adding in case of any injury, the traffickers did not take the victim to a hospital and tried self medication at home which sometimes caused more damage to the victim.
“The blood packed in capsules used by human traffickers to show that girls are virgin, could contain viruses and can spread AIDS or other contagious diseases,” Ansar Burney warned.
“These daughters of Eve are dying daily as they are forced to do the dirty job of prostitution against their will and these blood capsules are very dangerous for both the man and girl as well as for their family and the entire society”. Ansar Burney added.
He said his organisation was working on this issue for a long time and recently rescued some girls who were later sent back to Pakistan. Ansar Burney said some highly influential persons in these countries are also involved in this heinous crime against humanity.
Ansar Burney said these women are recruited through advertisements in the local papers or through direct contact with the “traders” or their representatives in entertainment spots or their homes. It is known that traders are at times even aided by friends or family members of the victims, he said. In some cases, the women travel on fake documents and are contacted on arrival in the region by either the trafficker or his representative.
Ansar Burney urged President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to direct the department concerned to take stern action against those who were involved in trafficking of young girls for prostitution. “I urge the concerned governments, their leaders, the United Nations, UN Human Rights Commission and other international human rights groups to come forward and help the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International to save the world before it is too late”. Ansar Burney added.
Source: The News
Date:2/6/2006
