Advertisement

‘I went looking for work, then I was enslaved for three years’

] “A true handmaid’s tale”: Hnin shared her story with World Vision.

] “A true handmaid’s tale”: Hnin shared her story with World Vision. Photo: World Vision

The Myanmarese police officers were shocked when the woman fell in front of them, grabbing at them wildly. Her arm was cracked and twisted; she was crying and pleading.

What the officers didn’t know was this woman was named Hnin, and she had been sold into slavery – twice.

Years earlier, Hnin had been tricked by a neighbour into leaving her parents and moving to China.

Once there, Hnin had been bought by a couple, assaulted by her captors, starved and forced to bear children. Her male captor cracked her arm – an injury that had never been allowed to heal.

Hnin had managed to escape – only to be sold again. In this home, she had been forced to sleep with 10 family members to get pregnant.

“For three years, I was enslaved by this family,” Hnin says.

This nightmare may seem like it could never happen twice, but the truth is, it’s all too common.

The horror of sex slavery continues to ensnare hundreds of women and children. In fact, as many as 21 million people are trafficked for profit every year.

Now, when the officers saw Hnin’s injuries, they believed her, even as her owners came and demanded her back.

After her ordeal, Hnin spent months in prison before being released. Photo: World Vision

How does anyone recover from something so horrific? It’s difficult to grasp. But somehow – miraculously – Hnin has managed to take steps to rebuild her life.

Her progress has been helped by World Vision which, with partner organisations, is working to combat human trafficking and other types of human rights abuse.

Through programs like child sponsorship, World Vision works to transform communities and protect children so they can grow up safe and healthy, without fear of trafficking and exploitation.

World Vision helped Hnin to testify against her trafficker in court, and they also helped her start a small business so she could get back on her feet.

Today, Hnin lives with her husband and two children in Myanmar. But she continues to tell her story in the hope that it will help make trafficking history.

“I’m telling my story now in order for other people to learn from it, and not trust people too readily,” she says.

“My dreams are for my children – that they can grow up with better experiences than the ones that I’ve had.”

World Vision continues to defend the rights of the world’s most vulnerable people, including survivors of slavery.

This is your moment to make change for someone like Hnin. Sponsor a child today.

Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.