Stories of Betrayal

How trust and hope are abused

Elisabeth's* story follows a horrifically common entrapping method of exploitation in human trafficking. She was courted and groomed by a man she met online. She thought he cared about her and he gave her lots of money and gifts whenever they met up in person. After a couple of months of building trust and dependence, he began threatening and blackmailing her but when she refused to do as he asked, he shared explicit images of her to her family and community. The images painted her a prostitute and her community believed the perpetrator and her family are ashamed due to cultural beliefs about a girl’s value and virginity. She was in danger from the perpetrator and the community as well as the shame based violence and neglect from her family.

We have heard this story before from so many of the teenage girls who have come into our care. It is rarely strangers or kidnapping that trafficking these girls - it is usually someone who has groomed the girls to believe they are trusted and loved. Hearing someone you trust, who has given gifts or lent you money when you need it say ‘You can help me earn money’, ‘I am in so much debt’, ‘These people are important to my business and our future’ or even ‘They can help you get started in your dream job’ makes the situation seem safe, normal or expected. The betrayal of this trust makes it hard to realise what is happening until you are already trapped in exploitation.

Elisabeth* came to the SHE Rescue Home to be safe while her court case goes on and will stay with us while she heals from her trauma. Our social workers will also be working with her family educating them grooming and hopefully end the victim blaming and shame.

Elisabeth* was welcomed to the home with her favourite food - Khmer sour soup (which happens to be a favourite of most of the girls in the home so everyone was very happy).

Find out more of Elisabeth’s story here.

If everyone reading this donated $20 a month we would have the funds to double the amount of girls we are currently supporting. Regular donations help us to budget for each year and decide on how many girls we can successfully support and resource into the future. We average welcoming 9 new girls into our SHE Rescue Home each year but with more regular support we can help more survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.