From Iceland — Victim Of Human Trafficking Tells Her Story

Victim Of Human Trafficking Tells Her Story

Published January 27, 2012

A woman who was sold into prostitution in Iceland spoke with a reporter about her experience in coming to Iceland and her treatment here, candidly recounting her experience.
The unidentified woman, DV reports, is 31 years old, but has been trapped in prostitution from the age of 13. “The week before I came to Iceland, I underwent a very difficult abortion, as I was five months pregnant at the time,” she told the reporter.
The reporter describes her as clear and articulate as she told her story. “I was very sick,” she said. “and lost consciousness on the way to [Iceland]. A doctor on board said my life was in danger, so the plane landed in Switzerland, where I was immediately admitted to a hospital. I was checked out the following day and then sent to Iceland. I never imagined that I’d be able to find help to get away. I was a prostitute and had no rights.”
Upon arrival, she was picked up at the airport by the woman who had “bought” her, and taken immediately to a basement apartment in the suburbs of Reykjavík. “I had my first client the same day. I was still quite sick.”
She said she underwent a great deal of physical and mental abuse, but was able to make her escape to the Women’s Shelter (Kvennaathvarf), where she resides now.

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