2025-04-24 22:00:00
Screenshot AUS “Rape Transborder”
Visit to the refugee camp: numerous children are also exposed to violence and exploitation in southern Libya
His name is Joy Ezekiel, he is 28 years old and comes from Nigeria: “I left Nigeria with the hope and promise of a woman who was a shepherd in my community”. He promised her a good life: “I trusted her,” says Joy in the camera. He sits herself in a room alone, a wall of the book behind her. The shepherd would have asked her to go to Europe to keep her only living mother: “she promised me that she wouldn’t be as usual. Stories of girls who arrive in Italy and Europe and land on the street. And you have to thrive to pay their debts. “But what happened in the following days was the beginning of torture that knows no horror limits.” He promised me a good trip “, he proved to be differently and the joy was much worse than” The girls in Italy and Europe “for years.
The Nigerian is one of the few who could be saved by an organization of aid in Libya and last year he told his story for the documentation of the observatory for the genre in crisis, “Transborder turnips” (cross -border turnover). Director Souad Weidi was visiting Vienna in early April. So far, the film has been shown only on the small scale of various NGOs, Young world He received the non -repeal transcriptions of the conversations with those affected in secret steam somewhere in the desert in southern Libya. Female relationships are shocking.
Joy had united human merchants with a group of young women, because there was no other way to leave Nigeria towards Europe: “As soon as you are in it, you are there. You can no longer go out because you know their secrets.” At the beginning everything was so simple “:” Everyone was happy that we left, sang and scored. “But from midnight”, when we arrived in Kano, everything changed “.. Kano is the fourth largest city in Nigeria, just 50 kilometers from the border to the Niger. When they arrived in the nearby country, they were attacked, their things were taken away:” We couldn’t take anything with us, so they took us all. We couldn’t even ask where we went.
They reached an area called Ebo in Niger. The next day they were cried in a truck: the entire group had to move closely – “Sometimes they put tomatoes, Panelaibo and other things about us so that nobody saw us”. They spent two days hidden until they reach Agadez. From there he went to the desert. But the path did not lead to Europe, but north -est through the Sahara, where they were delivered to other human dealers. They were brought to a field controlled by paramilitary militias that dominate the country divided south of the war.
The women all report to the same experiences: they have been beaten, tortured, raped by soldiers who control the border area and full of pills for abortion. “They raped me in front of my husband’s eyes, then they sexually abused my son, beat me and when they finished, they poured me petrol on me and he turned on me,” says another who holds a child in his arms: “I don’t know if he was from my husband or rape”. He could not survive, others.
If women are no longer desired by soldiers, they are often exposed to the desert. Joy was found there by an help organization. Subsequently he learned that he was in the custody of a local branch of the so called Islamic State for four years: “Ten girls, only 13 and seven men, took us to a room”. The 13 -old of 13 years was called Grace, it was still a virgin, says Joy: “They raped us all night, one after the other. They did everything with us.” In the morning, the men gathered to pray in a corner of the room: “Then they got up and raped us”.
When men finally went, Grace said to joy: “Please, pray for me.” Then on 13 of 13 he went to the bathroom and took his own life. The joy is located in front of the camera with tears. Before that night he would have liked to die, but at that moment he made the decision to live: “I have to live to tell the story of grace and experiment with the day on which we finish this slavery and rape”.
The Horrors of Transborder Trafficking: A Conversation with Dr. Evelyn Reed
Time.news: Dr.Reed, thank you for joining us. The recent revelations about “Transborder turnips” and the experiences documented by Souad Weidi are deeply disturbing. For our readers unfamiliar, coudl you explain what “Transborder turnips” refers to and the significance of the term itself?
Dr. Evelyn Reed: Thank you for having me. “Transborder turnips,” as translated here, essentially refers to cross-border human trafficking, specifically the trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation and forced labor. The term highlights the brutal reality of these victims being treated as mere commodities, objects to be traded and consumed, like turnips in a market. It’s a dehumanizing, yet accurate, metaphor for the horrific scale and nature of this crime.
Time.news: This article focuses on Joy Ezekiel’s story, a Nigerian man lured with false promises, and the broader experiences of women in Libyan refugee camps. The details, notably the accounts of rape and violence, are harrowing. what are your initial thoughts on Joy’s testimony and the conditions described?
Dr. Reed: Joy’s account is tragically representative of the exploitative tactics used by traffickers. the false promises of a better life, the manipulation of trust, and the swift descent into brutal captivity are all too common. The level of violence, including rape, torture, and even the account of a young girl taking her own life after repeated assaults, underscores the extreme vulnerability these individuals face. The fact that these atrocities are reportedly happening within or near refugee camps, areas that should offer sanctuary, highlights a profound failure of protection mechanisms. These camps, particularly in conflict zones like Libya, become hunting grounds for criminal networks.
Time.news: The article mentions the involvement of both human traffickers and paramilitary militias in these acts.Can you elaborate on the connection between these groups and how they operate in regions like southern Libya?
Dr. Reed: In conflict zones with weak governance, like southern Libya, a power vacuum exists. human traffickers and paramilitary groups frequently enough exploit this vacuum, forming alliances to control territory and profit from illicit activities. Traffickers rely on militias for security,transportation,and control over victims. Militias, in turn, frequently enough participate directly in the trafficking process, using sexual violence as a weapon of war and a means of generating revenue. Border areas become especially dangerous transit points where violence and exploitation flourish.
Time.news: The article states that women and girls are given pills for abortion.What does this detail reveal about the extent of control these groups exert over their victims?
Dr.reed: The forced abortion pills indicate a complete disregard for the victims’ bodily autonomy and reproductive rights. It demonstrates the traffickers’ absolute control,not only over their physical movement but also over their very destinies. It’s a chilling example of the systematic abuse and erasure of individual agency inherent in human trafficking. Preventative medication is also likely used to maintain the “value” of the victims for continued exploitation.
Time.news: Director Souad Weidi’s work with “Transborder turnips” aims to document these experiences. What is the value of documenting these stories, and why is it crucial for them to be heard?
Dr. Reed: Documentation is crucial for several reasons. First, it provides evidence of these crimes, wich can be used to hold perpetrators accountable. Second, it raises awareness about the reality of human trafficking and can help to break the cycle of silence and impunity. Third, it humanizes the victims, reminding us that they are individuals with stories, dreams, and a right to justice.By hearing their voices, we are more likely to take action to prevent these atrocities from happening in the first place. Fourth, it helps refine strategies for intervention and prevention by highlighting the specific tactics used by traffickers and the vulnerabilities they exploit.
Time.news: What can international organizations, governments, and individuals do to address this pervasive problem, particularly in vulnerable regions like southern Libya?
Dr. Reed: There’s no single solution, but a multi-pronged approach is essential:
Strengthening governance and security: This involves working with local authorities to establish law and order, combat corruption, and dismantle criminal networks.
Improving border control: This includes investing in technology, training law enforcement, and cooperating with neighboring countries to intercept traffickers and protect vulnerable people.
Providing humanitarian assistance: This encompasses meeting the basic needs of refugees and migrants, including food, shelter, medical care, and psychosocial support. Special attention must be paid to women and children who are at higher risk of exploitation.
Raising awareness: Educating communities about the risks of trafficking and empowering potential victims to protect themselves.
Supporting survivors: Providing access to counseling, legal aid, and vocational training to help survivors rebuild their lives.
Holding perpetrators accountable: Investigating and prosecuting traffickers, as well as those who enable or profit from their crimes.
Addressing root causes: Tackling poverty, inequality, and conflict, which create the conditions that allow trafficking to thrive.
Promote legal and safe routes: Increasing opportunities for safe immigration to make immigration safer.
Time.news: Dr. Reed, what message would you like to leave our readers with after hearing these disturbing details of transborder trafficking?
Dr. Reed: Don’t look away. These stories are arduous to read, but it’s crucial to acknowledge the reality of human trafficking and the suffering of its victims.Educate yourself, support organizations working to combat trafficking, and advocate for policies that protect vulnerable populations. Every action,no matter how small,can make a difference in the fight against this horrific crime. The courage of survivors like Joy to share their stories is a call to action for all of us. let us honor their bravery by working towards a world where such atrocities are no longer possible.