As we approach the 10th anniversary of Caritas Bakhita House, our safe house for survivors of trafficking and exploitation, we’re sharing the stories of the some of the women who have passed through its doors in the last decade; stories of suffering, resilience, healing and hope.
At 20 years old, Lana (not her real name), originally from Romania, had a young child and was living with her elderly parents. Having grown up in a small village that does not appear on most maps, her exposure to the outside world was very limited.
One day, two brothers approached her to offer her work a factory in the UK, telling her that in just three months she would earn enough money to support her family for an entire year.
Faced with such an offer, Lana left her home and travelled to South London with the men who had offered her the job. Upon arrival, a female who was controlling other women in the house took her passport, and gave her scanty clothes to wear. After asking whether such clothes were appropriate for work in a factory, she was told that in fact, she would commence work that night on the streets of Tottenham, selling sex.
When she refused to do this, she was beaten, and subsequently put to work by the two men. She was not allowed to contact her family and was beaten regularly. When she became pregnant, the beatings became more frequent; her exploiters wanted her to lose the baby.
One night, a client asked if she ever spoke to her family, and she explained that she could not. He returned the next day, bringing with him a mobile phone for her to use. She finally was able to call her family for help, and quickly the Police got involved and brought her to Caritas Bakhita House.
Lana was seven months pregnant when she arrived at the centre. She was given immediate medical treatment, and in spite of the beatings she had suffered, miraculous scans revealed that her baby was alive and healthy.
During her time at Caritas Bakhita House, Lana took English lessons and joined in-house art therapy sessions. More than anything, she wanted to travel home to see her family and have her baby, and this had to be arranged quickly before she could no longer fly. So, the centre contacted the International Justice Mission, who met with Lana’s family and arranged medical care for her. After the birth of her baby, they even arranged for Lana to be employed near her home.
As Lana began to rebuild her life, what remained was for justice to be enacted against those who had exploited her. Lana assisted the Police throughout their investigation, supported by staff at Caritas Bakhita House.
The police arrested the two brothers, and a year later found and arrested the female exploiter.
Ilac Dumitru (19) was convicted and imprisoned for 15 years for trafficking and supply of cocaine. Ioan Dumitru (24) was convicted and imprisoned for 16 years, for conspiracy to arrange or facilitate trafficking into the UK for sexual exploitation, and for conspiracy to hold a person in servitude. At a subsequent trial, the woman was found guilty of conspiring to trafficking for sexual exploitation and holding a person in slavery and servitude. She was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
Lana’s is just one of over 200 stories of the women who have passed through Caritas Bakhita House in the last 10 years. With your support, the centre can continue to provide safety and life-changing help to hundreds more women who are fleeing from trafficking and slavery; crimes that continue in our society today.
