Every year between 100 and 200 Bulgarians become victims of human trafficking. In our country, traffickers most often find their way to their victims online and forcibly involve them in prostitution, begging, theft or hard physical work without pay. Today, in many cities of the country, a “March for Freedom” took place – a peaceful march that sharpens the attention on modern slavery – human trafficking.
First scenario – after the death of her father, a girl is sold as junk.
“Her brothers sell her to a trafficker in Greece, where she is forced to become a prostitute, and a lucky coincidence connects her with people who manage to help her, to file a report,” said Daniela Saveklieva, secretary of the National Commission for Combating Human Trafficking.
Second scenario – a stranger connects with a child on social networks.
“An emotional relationship begins, which can become, for example, a form of sexting, of sending provocative photos, which at one point, at first we don’t know what these photos will be used for, but then blackmail begins,” he explained Monika Nikolova – executive director of the A21 Campaign Foundation.
Third scenario – an Internet ad with a promise of a job abroad with a very high salary, no language and special skill requirements. A journey with hope for a better life follows.
“The worst scenario is first, very often people don’t know where they are, they are isolated, their documents are taken away, they don’t get what they were promised,” stressed Monika Nikolova.
“They don’t sign contracts or they sign ones that are fake, but they are not given a copy of them, they are locked up in some places that they don’t have the right to leave, they don’t have the right to contact their loved ones and acquaintances,” said Daniela Saveklieva – Secretary of the National Commission to Combat Human Trafficking.
Three real-life scenarios involving the fates of dozens of women, children and men. People held in fear and mercilessly exploited. The schemes are different, but they always start with beautiful promises. For example, while she was a student in London, Alex worked as an extra in various productions. With the idea of more work, she registered on a special platform where directors can directly contact the extra. She immediately received an offer from a person who invited her to work with a new studio.
“What this guy suggested was to go to another city for an interview, which was the first red light for me, because I’m neither an actress, I’m an extra, they just need to see how you look, do you have experience, if they they like you, no one invites you to an interview. The concern in me made me invite two of my girlfriends with me, not to travel alone. Something was telling me to be safe,” Alex Valenzuela told BNT.
When they arrived at the designated location, the alleged producer told Alex that he would personally pick her up in his car. However, his intentions changed abruptly when he realized that she was not alone.
“Nobody shows up, I ring, subscriber with that number doesn’t exist, my messages stopped sending, I couldn’t find him after that on the platform, and then I remember how at 21 in London in an ugly industry that must be quite safe, I said to myself, well, this certainly wouldn’t have ended well if I hadn’t taken some steps,” Alex Valenzuela is emphatic.
And if Alex sensed the threat and protected herself, traffickers continue to find new and new ways to generate huge profits. The last scheme – fictitious marriages of Bulgarian women with foreigners.
“In countries in Asia, most often, where they travel to marry a third-country national who acquires through the marriage the right to reside in the territory of the EU, accordingly this is again a well-organized criminal scheme and the organizers of the scheme receive significant funds, while the woman can receive a minimum amount”, summarized Rositsa Yaneva – local Commission for Combating Human Trafficking – Municipality of Burgas.
In order to inform people about the dangers of human trafficking, a “March for Freedom” was held today in many cities across the country. The goal – to turn on the society’s “red lights” against the crime that involves modern slavery.