Plea to European Parliament: Let the voices of the victims of sexual traficking be heard!
My friend, Betsy Kawamura, has penned the following appeal to the European Parliament about a vote they are conducting regarding the involvement of victims of sexual traficking as experts in attempts to control this violence. Let the voices of the victims be heard, she argues:
For Tomorrow’s Vote - Patricia, Ms. Prets, Ms. De Keyser- Again, for Your Kind Attention…Thank You
Hello..Thank you for your attention to this matter again. E. Horstkoetter did mention again that R. R. from the Green party had tabled this ammendment for Voting tommorrow. As I said below, I really believe that people like myself - former victims/survivors - have SO LITTLE CHANCE, opportunities to ‘Speak Up’ about ourselves in society without being RE-stigmatized, re-marginalized.
MANY of us have tried - only to find ourselves RE-STIGMATIZED and to find ourselves in financial and social dilemmas no matter HOW hard we try sometimes. I find it a sheer irony that when everyone at EU Parliament and other ‘womens’ agencies’ seems to be ‘Fighting’ trafficking and abuse of women, whether in civil or war zones, we, the actual past victims/survivors do NOT get supported, paid or acknowledged for our current work and contributions, or WORSE yet, lack opportunities to Speak Up about this?? Why is this, please ?? Are we to consider ourselves any ‘less’ competent or deserving than you?? We would like to know this..
WHEN are women like us going to have a chance to be RESPECTED and heard and supported at EU parliament level for our contribution in civilian as well as conflict zones to PREVENT further tragedies ?? Isn’t this what you and your colleagues are fighting/working for ?? For people like myself - past survivors of sexual abuse, prostitution to be able to have HUMAN DIGNITY and find ourselves jobs, financial security and a place in society again whether in war zones or non war zones, especially to help others ? We have the human right to have a voice in this, now.
I also know of MANY CASES where former prostituted women had been fired from their ‘new jobs’ outside of the sex industry because there was NO PROTECTION for them against descrimination. Imagine this happening to the Thousands of women in Bosnia and other war zones, especially in Iraq and other Muslim nations who were raped, mutlilated - trying to ‘create a new life’ for themselves in society in finding non-sex industry jobs. NO - they face Imminent dangers of RE-stigmatization to their graves. Do you think they are having an ‘easy’ time ?? Health care and basic ’social benefits’ in the form of pills are NOT enough. Pills do NOT ‘eradicate’ stigmatization from society, my ladies.
Also, PLEASE consider HOW many ex trafficked/prostituted women are DENIED chances of good, healthy relationships and marriages ?? I can well advise you that MANY, many formerly prostituted/trafficked women have COUNTLESS number of husbands, relatives, etc. who have THROWN out any ‘ties’ to these women. I can rest assure you that I, personally have experienced MANY of the things mentioned above. HOW do these women tell their husbands, children about what has happened WITHOUT the risk of being tossed out or killed by them? This goes for war zones and our ‘modern society’ here , ladies…
Do you KNOW how difficult it is to ‘find’ an ‘understanding’ boyfriend/husband partner as a former victim of sexual violence, prostitution/trafficking ?? It is AS difficult as finding a romantic partner for an HIV/AIDS person — BUT unlike HIV/AIDS situation, we have NO REAL voice/power/support as victims/survivors of sexual violence. WHAT are the women in Bosnia, Iraq and other war zones going to do ?? Can you just imagine the FATE of Muslim women who have been sexually abused ?? They become OFTEN honour killed by their families. We will CONTINUE to be stigmatized, marginalized from society and experience ‘Feminized Poverty’ as M Keyser so aptly writes UNLESS we are given power, support and a VOICE, tomorrow, Please.
Please, kindly, unless YOUR team can give us a ‘fair voice’ or a fair chance at this tomorrow, it will be become INCREASINGLY difficult to find any ‘voice’ or place for us. RE-stigmatization is a REALITY for us that is so incredibly painful in conflict and civilian zones. There is NO ‘pill’ to take away our pain, ladies. Muslim women survivors especially have NO support when they are sexually abused, prostituted and/or trafficked. This should be an important part of your agenda, please.
Society ‘automatically’ classifies past victims of sexual abuse - especially via prostitution and trafficking - as being a. ‘less intelligent’ b. are of ‘lower class’ c. ‘dirty’ and ‘outcasts’. This is why you SELDOM see past victims ’speak out’.
Please kindly give us a chance to be ‘heard’ tomorrow at the Vote and to ‘come out’ to help and heal others. Thank you very kindly and looking for support.
Cheers and yours truly — B. Kawamura +44 (0)7752 411458, London.
…. you can find some background material on me on Google search - betsy kawamura + okinawa + US military — Thank you kindly.
Add comment June 1st, 2006