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Thousands of young women are trafficked each year |
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"In countries in Africa which are in poverty, children are in the front line of being the victims. Sometimes their families connive at it, very often their families are tricked and these children are the real modern slaves."
For Mrs Robinson, these are not just words. She explained how she is prepared to confront those who make use of trafficked women. They are the problem, she says, not the girls themselves.
For every trafficked girl there is a man, a willing customer, prepared to hire a girl for sex and not ask too many questions.
Recalling a trip to Cambodia she said, "I went to a project and I sat on the floor with some girls aged between eight and 13."
"They were all HIV positive. They had all been abused sexually. Some very senior and distinguished Cambodians, men, like to have sex with young girls. It must be addressed and attacked culturally and deeply."
An estimated 200,000 women and children fall victim to human trafficking in the region every year.
Driven by a conviction to "confront the problem", Mrs Robinson went on to address the Cambodian parliament.
"It is extremely important that women and young children who are trafficked don't become twice victims."
"I had to address that in the Cambodian Parliament too because young girls from Vietnam had been arrested and detained in prison as though they were the wrong doers. None of the men using them for their own gratification were caught." |
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