// T h e S t r e e t W a t c h //
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Anonyme eMail von einer 17jährigen
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2006
To: witness@ex-oriente-lux.org
From: anonymous
hallo. also ich bin 17 und bin arbeitslos und habe mit meinen eltern stress weil ich keine arbeit habe. und vor paar wochen habe ich jemand kennen gelernt zu dem ich vertrauen hatte. und er kenn ein zuhälter naja er sagt er ist kein zuhälter er tut das alles vermitteln. ja und der hat ihm dan meine nummer gegeben der sich dan auch gemeldet hat.natürlich wusste ich garnicht wer er ist was er beruflich macht er hat mich angerufen und hat mich gefragt ob wir uns treffen können ich habe zu gesagt weil ich ihn verwechselt habe mit jemand. ja nach 2 stunden stand ich da mit meiner freundin und ich hatte mich schon gewundert warum der so ein geiles auto hatte ich hatte mir nix dabei gedacht und wir stiegen ein. danach sind wir zum rhein gefahren und meine freundin ist aus gestiegen wir saßen im auto 2stunden und haben darüber gereder. er hat gemeint ich habe erfahren das du arbeit suchst und alles dafür machen würdest er sprach die türen sind offen für dich.und hat mich auch auf geklärt darüber ob es stimmt weiß ich nicht. er hat gemeint es ist nicht so das du auf der straße stehst sondern in hotels den in holland ist das ja legal und ich könnte mir auch die männer aus suchen. und wenn ich aussteigen wollte könnte ich das den es würde mich ja keiner zwingen dazu. der ist so lieb aber ich weiß net ob ich ihm vertrauen kann.
was soll ich tun?
Liebe Unbekannte,
wir können Dir nur abraten, sich auf solche Sachen einzulassen. Die Frage ist, ob Du Dich überhaupt berufen fühlst, als Prostituierte zu arbeiten. Wenn das nicht der Fall ist, dann lass die Finger davon!
Dass Du keinen Job findest, darf da nicht als alleiniger Grund stehen. Und vertraue niemandem, der lächelt und gleichzeitig Dir die tollen Vorzüge und den Luxus eines Lebens als Edelhure zu erklären versucht.
Am besten wäre es, wenn Du bei MADONNA anrufst. Das ist eine Beratungsstelle für Prostituierte in Bochum.
Die Telefonnumer ist hier:
0234 - 685 750 oder 0700 - 623 666 2.
Ansonsten haben sie auch eine Webseite:
http://www.madonna-ev.de/
Monday, February 06, 2006
Das große Geschäft mit der Ware Frau / BUCHTIPP
Lea Ackermann, Inge Bell, Barbara Koelges
"Verkauft, versklavt, zum Sex gezwungen"
Erscheinungstermin: 21.07.2005
Menschenhandel: Ein Verbrechen, das mitten unter uns geschieht. Vor allem Frauen und Kinder sind die Opfer. Aber kaum jemand nimmt Notiz davon. Dabei wird die »Ware Frau« offen zum Kauf angeboten – täglich in Zeitungsanzeigen, rund um die Uhr im Internet. Laxe Bestimmungen und eine nachlässige Rechtsauslegung machen es Schleppern und Schleusern leicht. Wer profitiert von dem lukrativen Geschäft? Wer sind die Freier, die die Nachfrage für das verbrecherische Angebot erst erzeugen? Diese sensible und zugleich mutige Reportage lässt Opfer zu Wort kommen, bringt erschreckende Details ans Tageslicht und zeigt: Wir können etwas tun. Wer diese unerträglichen Verbrechen an Frauen und Kindern nicht länger akzeptieren will, ist aufgefordert zu handeln.
2005, 176 Seiten, Kt | kartoniert (Book - softback)
ISBN: 3466306914
Preis: EUR 14,95 // SFR 27,30
bestellbar bei Koesel
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
The Sex-Scene in Dubai - far away from the Qur'an
From: ****@*******.***
To: witness@ex-oriente-lux.org
Subject: Dubai sex scene
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005
Goodday,
I'm reading your website with (a lot) of interest. A pity I 'discovered' it only now. I just would like to share some 'experiences' with you. I've lived in Dubai, U.A.E. for more than 10 years and saw the sex industry developing there. First there was only some hidden prostitution with mostly Arab (from N-Africa and e.g. India) for mostly Arab and Indian customers. From around 1995 more and more girls from the so-called 'stan' countries showed up. Untill a certain moment they were even walking openly on the street. Really unbelievable for a moslim country where you here 5 times a day the mullah's calling for prayer from their towers and Islam is everything and everywhere in society.
Now, 2005, Chinese girls are walking, dozens at the same time, at 3 am trying to sell themselves for as little as US$ 30. There are numerous nightclubs and pubs where you can pick up a girl from e.g. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan or Russia, etc. Prostitution is presently a very established and profitable business segment of Dubai's society. It's actually unthinkable without it! Its generally an accepted idea that hookers are THE attraction of Dubai and very good for business in general. Arabs from neighbouring countries will choose now the emirate of Dubai above all others for doing their (other) business! My personal estimation (shared by others) is that there are at least 10.000 sex-workers in Dubai alone. Since I've been in many of these bars numerous times, I also spoke a lot with all kinds of these girls and can write a book of the stories I've heard from them. I was even invited on their parties and birthday's and sometimes 'consulted' for advise on all kind of subjects. Some of the stories were very bad and tragic, some not so sad. At least to me, since I must say that I still dont understand many of these girls their motivation (to stay). Apart from the economic reasons of course, no work - no bread.
Please take into consideration that most girls I spoke are not forced in the sense of threats with violence and kept against their free will, although I heard about first handedly. Most of them are more or less voluntary still there. I say 'more or less' because almost all of them came there on a 'contract'. Usually they had to pay 6 to 8 thousand dollars when they arrived. Most of them were 'free' in about 2 to 4 months. Than they stayed and work independantly, without 'boss'. Even if they are sometimes treated very bad. Rape, beatings, robbed, illegal stay, etc. They very very seldomly go to the police for all those reasons already mentioned on your website.
I know for a fact that many policeman have one of these girls as their 'girlfriend' and sometimes even protect them. The simple fact is that if they go back to their country they have no or very little income compared to what they can earn in the UAE. And don't forget the 'glamour' of the 'good' life in Dubai.
If you're origin is from a low-class social family and never tasted a good steak in your life and now can eat them almost everyday, what would one choose?
It's a shame I dont find a NGO for the U.A.E. in your list. Is there such a thing there actually? I know that Dubai police admits prostitution is a severe problem in Dubai, but I dont believe they are too serious in trying to finish it. Why?
One example. There is a famous huge discotheque in Dubai (name:Cyclone) where untill short, police was handling the busy traffic as a result of all the last-minute-business dealings at closing time (3 am). If it was not so sad, it was almost really funny! So, nobody go's to or tells the police anything if not absolutely necesarry.
I can tell you a lot more, but not now. If you are interested in more of the Dubai sex-scene or have specific questions, you can reach me on my address: ****@*******.***
Greetings, ********
PS: Yes, I was a 'john', sometimes. And now actually I have a relationship, 3 years already, with an ex-sexworker met in Dubai. That explains partly my interest.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
A witness account from a woman who went through the cruel machinery of prostitution, pimping and law enforcement
Hi. I ran across you site after reading a testimony from human trafficking.com. It is very good feeling when you see sites such as yours trying to bring awareness and promote understanding of this very difficult subject. I am a survivor of forced prostitution, although I consider myself to be one of the lucky ones and my experiences were mild compared to most, they have been the reason for compassion on bringing the harsh realities of forced prostitution to my community.
Here is my story:
No child wakes up in the morning and says I want to be a hooker when I grow up.
No body wants to have sex with 5 or even 10 strange men everyday. There is an endless amount of reasons why people end up prostituting themselves.
Running away from a home filled with incest, sexual and physical abuse, drug addictions, or being homeless and feeling like they are left with no other option.
Imagine living from minute to minute, waking up each morning and asking your-self, "am I going to live to see this afternoon"?
Imagine having to trust a complete stranger enough to get into his vehicle and go to a secluded place - not knowing what could possibly happen. Coming home each night and scrubbing your skin raw just to try and feel clean.
The rapes, stabbings, and beatings that prostitutes suffer do not stop them from taking the same risks over and over. What prevents this is their silence.
How the Pimp 'n Ho game works:
A pimp seeks out a young girl usually a runaway or loner. He shows off his fancy car, clothes, jewelry, and money leading her to believe that she too can achieve a life of luxury.
At the first opportunity he moves her from her hometown to an unfamiliar state - where he is the only thing that looks familiar.
There they start the abuse becoming physically and sexually violent forcing them into unwanted sex. He controls where she goes, what she does, and whom she can speak to he takes all of her money so she is financially dependent on him hoping to prevent her escaping.
I have seen all of this and I have experienced it. I too believed the lies that were told to me. I too was beaten if I didn't have enough money at the end of the day. For nearly six horrifying years I survived the brutal rapes, assaults, and harassment.
I survived the fear and torment from a man that promised to kill our daughter and me if I ever left him. I survived threats and intimidation from other pimps, strangers and police. I survived being drug from state to state and forced to prostitute myself.
I survived being sexually exploited and being treated as no more than a piece of human garbage. I would actually say that I am one of the lucky ones and my experiences were mild compared to what others like me have been through. I am still alive today.
Leaving prostitution is by far harder than to be introduced. When I left LA I left with my daughter and one bag. I returned to Seattle to no where to go, and the pimp that I just left had turned all of my friends against me. I felt that I was left with only one option.
I thought about getting a job, but how was I going to pay rent until my first paycheck? Who would hire a convicted prostitute? Would minimum wage cover all of the monthly expenses as far as rent, utilities and childcare? Who would rent to me with no rental history and working a job that paid minimum wage? I felt like there was no other way to make ends meet so I continued to prostitute myself.
I was arrested in October of 2001, and the prosecutor was asking the judge to give me a 60-day sentence. At my arraignment I pled not guilty. The Judge accepted my plea and tried to issue me a SOAP order. I explained that I had been living on Pacific Hwy South for several months and that a SOAP order would interfere with mine and my children's living situation. He had said that the environment was not a good place to raise my children and I shouldn't be prostituting myself with kids to raise.
Without any facts he had already determined that I was a prostitute. Doesn't the law say that one is to be presumed innocent until proven guilty?
Now I was ready to give up. My kids deserved so much better than I could give them. I felt lucky to be alive. That's when I met Tony.
He showed me that I my life wasn't over. He made me feel like no one had ever made me feel. He wasn't there to use me. I didn't feel like a 'dirt whore' when I was with him. Most of all he didn't feel sorry for me, he saw through the mask that I wore.
I called a local shelter and went to live there. While living at the shelter I applied to a couple transitional living programs and was accepted through the YWCA. The program requires a monthly service fee, which is 30% of my monthly income. For 20 hours each week, I am required to be in school, working, or working on my mental health. I meet with a case manager once a week to set weekly goals and see how things are going.
Seattle Mental Health Center is where I was diagnosed with agoraphobia with panic disorder. I take 100mg of Zoloft everyday to help to be able to walk out my front door.
I believe that if it weren't for Tony and the YWCA, I wouldn't be here today. Imagine if there were a safe place similar to the YWCA for these women to escape to. I see a city with fewer victims of exploitation and violence. I see fewer victims of people like Gary Ridgeway to stalk. Sometimes people are dealt a life they don't deserve, why does this mean they can't be given the chance at a better one?
Would you mind if I put your link onto my site?
Your work and dedication has helped or inspired many others I'm sure of it.
Jen *******
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Report of a client in Amsterdam
Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2005
To: witness@ex-oriente-lux.org
From: ******@*******.**
Hi, I’m from the Netherlands.
I have visited prostitutes too. While I did that, every time I visited a prostitute, I read an article in magazines about human trafficking. As if I was sent messages from ‘above’. I visited window-prostitutes in the red light district of Amsterdam (“de Wallen”). I have visited three prostitutes. One prostitute I visited came from Latvia. She was very friendly and even gave me compliments. Strange foreign men stood before her window. I only later realised those men could be her pimps after I read an article shortly thereafter about a victim of human trafficking from, you guessed, Latvia. I even fantasised about rescuing her, but obviously that plan didn’t materialize. I didn’t want to have such an experience again. I started to read books about prostitution and human trafficking. I was trying to find information about which spots I could avoid best. There was one book about human trafficking in which it was said that there were only a 1000 victims of human trafficking in the Netherlands. There are 20.000 prostitutes in the Netherlands. That means only five percent of the prostitutes is a victim of human trafficking. I felt relieved. I went to the red light district again. After I had sex with the prostitute I asked her if she had a pimp. No, she didn’t have……but, then came the revelation, she said many girls who work there have a pimp. I was totally shocked.
I frantically looked for more information about prostitution, especially window prostitution. I read about a Christian organisation of aid-workers called the “Scharlaken Koord”. They have contacts with many prostitutes in the red light district of Amsterdam. They revealed half of the prostitutes hand over all of their income to their pimps. Of the Dutch window prostitutes, 87 percent was introduced into prostitution by so-called loverboys(pimps who use romantic techniques to persuade a girl to work for him as a prostitute). And those are the Dutch prostitutes.
I have found much more evidence in literature to prove what the Scharlaken Koord and the prostitute I’ve spoken with are true. A ‘loverboy’ who worked in the red light district of Amsterdam even estimated 80 percent of the prostitutes who work there have a pimp. He even said the Dutch government made it too easy for pimps and human traffickers by legalizing prostitution.
It was difficult for me to find information about indoor-brothels (window prostitution not included). Suddenly I found a web-log of an ex-prostitute who has worked in 2 brothels. She revealed that the majority of the prostitutes who worked there were forced. Either by a drug-habit or by their boyfriends. I previously believed forced prostitution in indoor-brothels occurred much less than in window-prostitution. I was enraged.
I turned my attention to a large consumer-site for prostitute-clients. I went into discussion with them. I believed most prostitutes are forced, and I believed it would be better if men don’t visit prostitutes anymore. If men don’t visit prostitutes, there would be no forced prostitution anymore. A real prostitute responded, and she said she rarely met prostitutes who were coerced into sexwork. But aside from that, what I find shocking is that basically most clients aren’t interested if a prostitutes has been coerced or not. And the reason is horrific and in a sense awfully true. Their line of thinking goes like this: if I buy a bar of chocolate. Do I wonder where the cacao comes from? Well….the cacao is made by slaves in Ivory Coast. Do I bother about them when I eat chocolate? As a matter of fact, many products you buy in the store are made under almost slavery-like conditions. Do I bother about the workers who made this stuff when I buy all these things in the store??? Of course not!!!!.......... Then why should I bother about the prostitute?
And the funny thing is that the ‘voluntary’ prostitutes who also joined the discussion basically agreed with them. Their line of thinking is that a client is not responsible for the prostitute being forced or not. It’s not his fault.
I believe if so many people think in this manner, that as long men keep visiting prostitutes, human trafficking is here to stay.
I’m cynical.
And oh, by the way. It’s very difficult for a prostitute-client to distinguish between a voluntary and a forced prostitute. I am busy for almost a year to find out which place I can go best to visit a prostitute without risk of visiting a trafficked woman. I have a box full of books about prostitution. And still no answers. There’s no information. The only information I could hold on to is that the average trafficked woman is much younger than the average prostitute in general, 23 years and 28 years respectively. That means, I can reduce the chance of visiting a trafficked woman by visiting older prostitutes. That’s the only guideline I have for now. Still, I don’t dare to visit prostitutes anymore.
Some extra comments: It's really really almost impossible to see if a prostitute has been coerced or not. Trafficked women can hide very well what's really going in. I'm in contact with many prostitute-clients via the internet and they are saying the same thing.
Greetings...
******
Friday, June 10, 2005
There is never enough trouble in Bulgaria: a witness talks
From: ****@********.***
To: help@ex-oriente-lux.org
Subject: prostitutes
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005
I have just returned from varna with friends and was surprised at the number of prostitutes on party street. On two occasions I sat outside a bar with a prostitute who took a shine tome, one hour on one night and about two hours on the following night. I made it clear that i did not pay for sex but i bought her a few drinks, a packet of cigarettes and gave her ten leve for some food. I did not realise that the pimps were observing us, and on the second night myself and my freinds were followed by what i thought were pimps or mafia?
we gave them the slip, and on the third night we were followed by many more big guys, and had to seek refuge in a hotel. we were in fear of our lives. (i assume it was because i had wasted three hours of her time and not paid her)
She was not out the third night and we assume that she had taken a beating. She (Julia) gave me her mobile number and told me that she loved me. I felt that she was affraid and being bullied into what she was doing. I have rung her but she does not speak much English, I have text her but have had no reply. I feel for this girl, and am worried about her safety. I would bring her to the uk if i could. Is there anything that can be done?
Thursday, April 21, 2005
A man fighting for a woman in Bulgaria
From: ****@*****.***
Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005
Subject: Dilemma.
To: witness@ex-oriente-lux.org
Dear Sir or Madam,
Just to say that after reading your q&a, so many things are familiar. I did not have sex with a minor, but the girl from Bulgaria i was involved with for two years has recently lapsed back into prostitution, for this time i gave monetary assistance because i believed she had been conditioned by her boss, I am about to have a second article published in the newspaper "24 Hours' in Bulgaria.
This girl is returning home soon after being taken to Switzerland by her boss.
I have given testimony against him in Bulgaria,maybe this will help stop him, but i worry for her mental health now.She may need professional help, 'Where can she go? i am trying to work a solution out with her family to take her back,but this alone may not be enough, i feel she will be a target for others even if this boss is locked up..
I will assist your efforts all i can as i am very passionate about this girls future.
You may contact me any time with any questions.
Yours sincerely,
*******
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Stellungnahme eines Users
From: *****\*******.**
To: witness@ex-oriente-lux.org
Subject: // Zeugenaussagen //
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005
Hallo!
Ich komm mal gleich zur Sache: Ich nehme ab und zu Dienste von Prostituierten in Anspruch. Ist ja im Grunde genommen nicht illegal und ob es nun moralisch verwerflich ist, steht hier nicht zur Diskussion.
Ich bin nun das erste mal mit einem Fall von Zwangsprostitution in Berührung gekommen. Das es sich in diesem Fall um Zwangsprostitution handelt ist offensichtlich; es liegt hier auch ein Fall von sichtbarer körperlicher Mißhandlung vor. Ich möchte der betroffenen Person gerne helfen, nur habe ich folgendes Problem: Die Person kann weder Deutsch noch Englisch; nicht mal einfachste Wörter. Ich denke mal, wenn ich die Person einfach bei der Polizei abliefere, hilft das auch nicht. Sie werden sicher aus eigener Erfahrung wissen, dass die Betroffenen Frauen kein großes Vertrauen in die Polizei haben. Jetzt habe ich intensivst im Internet geschaut, ob es nicht Informationen oder Broschüren oder ähnliches für solche betroffenen Frauen in der jeweiligen Landessprache gibt. Am besten zum herunterladen und nicht zum Postversand; die Freier wollen schließlich anonym bleiben. Und was hab ich gefunden? Praktisch nichts ! Auf Ihrer SOS-Seite sind gerade mal vier Zeilen in der jeweiliegen Landessprache und "wichtige Sprachen" wie z.B. polnisch oder russisch sind überhaupt nicht vorhanden! Wenn ich einer betroffenen Frau diese vier Zeilen vor die Nase halte, wird sie sicherlich nicht davon überzeugt werdem sich bei Ihnen zu melden geschweige denn, sich mir anvertrauen. Ich muß der Frau dann doch etwas überzeugendere Tatsachen vorzeigen können, wie sichere Unterbringung, ärztliche Versorgung, Rechtsschutz usw.
Zusammenfassend: Es fehlen Informationen in der jeweiligen Landessprache zum herunterladen, ausdrucken und zum überreichen (durch hilfsbereite Freier) an die betroffene Person. Sie werden sicherlich auf diese Art und Weise viel mehr Fälle von Zwangsprostitution aufdecken. Denn die Freier sind (und das wollen Sie sicherlich nicht abstreiten) viel näher dran am Geschehen als Sie.
Sie dürfen allerdings alle Freier auch nicht in einen Topf werfen. Es gibt sicherlich genug Personen wie mich, die helfen wollen, denen aber einfach nicht die Möglichkeiten dazu geboten werden.
Was die fehlenden Übersetzungen auf Ihrer Seite angeht: Schauen Sie doch mal in die Gelben Seiten: es gibt massenhaft Übersetzungsbüros für alle Sprachen. Ich bin sicher, daß diese für das Übersetzen Ihrer vier Zeilen kein Geld verlangen, wenn Sie darlegen, daß es für eine gute Sache ist. Oder Fragen Sie bei den entsprechenden Konsulaten nach! Das ist doch kein Zustand, daß gerade russiche und polnische Übersetzungen fehlen!
Bedenken Sie bitte: Solange wie diese Übersetzungen oder die von mir gesuchten Informationen nicht greifbar sind, solange werden etliche Frauen das Ihnen bekannte Schicksal weiter durchleiden müssen !
Sofern Sie wissen, wo es im Internet solche Informationen in den jeweiligen Landessprachen gibt, wäre ich für Ihre Rückäußerung dankbar.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Anonyme eMail von einer 17jährigen
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2006
To: witness@ex-oriente-lux.org
From: anonymous
hallo. also ich bin 17 und bin arbeitslos und habe mit meinen eltern stress weil ich keine arbeit habe. und vor paar wochen habe ich jemand kennen gelernt zu dem ich vertrauen hatte. und er kenn ein zuhälter naja er sagt er ist kein zuhälter er tut das alles vermitteln. ja und der hat ihm dan meine nummer gegeben der sich dan auch gemeldet hat.natürlich wusste ich garnicht wer er ist was er beruflich macht er hat mich angerufen und hat mich gefragt ob wir uns treffen können ich habe zu gesagt weil ich ihn verwechselt habe mit jemand. ja nach 2 stunden stand ich da mit meiner freundin und ich hatte mich schon gewundert warum der so ein geiles auto hatte ich hatte mir nix dabei gedacht und wir stiegen ein. danach sind wir zum rhein gefahren und meine freundin ist aus gestiegen wir saßen im auto 2stunden und haben darüber gereder. er hat gemeint ich habe erfahren das du arbeit suchst und alles dafür machen würdest er sprach die türen sind offen für dich.und hat mich auch auf geklärt darüber ob es stimmt weiß ich nicht. er hat gemeint es ist nicht so das du auf der straße stehst sondern in hotels den in holland ist das ja legal und ich könnte mir auch die männer aus suchen. und wenn ich aussteigen wollte könnte ich das den es würde mich ja keiner zwingen dazu. der ist so lieb aber ich weiß net ob ich ihm vertrauen kann.
was soll ich tun?
Liebe Unbekannte,
wir können Dir nur abraten, sich auf solche Sachen einzulassen. Die Frage ist, ob Du Dich überhaupt berufen fühlst, als Prostituierte zu arbeiten. Wenn das nicht der Fall ist, dann lass die Finger davon!
Dass Du keinen Job findest, darf da nicht als alleiniger Grund stehen. Und vertraue niemandem, der lächelt und gleichzeitig Dir die tollen Vorzüge und den Luxus eines Lebens als Edelhure zu erklären versucht.
Am besten wäre es, wenn Du bei MADONNA anrufst. Das ist eine Beratungsstelle für Prostituierte in Bochum.
Die Telefonnumer ist hier:
0234 - 685 750 oder 0700 - 623 666 2.
Ansonsten haben sie auch eine Webseite:
http://www.madonna-ev.de/
Monday, February 06, 2006
Das große Geschäft mit der Ware Frau / BUCHTIPP
Lea Ackermann, Inge Bell, Barbara Koelges
"Verkauft, versklavt, zum Sex gezwungen"
Erscheinungstermin: 21.07.2005
Menschenhandel: Ein Verbrechen, das mitten unter uns geschieht. Vor allem Frauen und Kinder sind die Opfer. Aber kaum jemand nimmt Notiz davon. Dabei wird die »Ware Frau« offen zum Kauf angeboten – täglich in Zeitungsanzeigen, rund um die Uhr im Internet. Laxe Bestimmungen und eine nachlässige Rechtsauslegung machen es Schleppern und Schleusern leicht. Wer profitiert von dem lukrativen Geschäft? Wer sind die Freier, die die Nachfrage für das verbrecherische Angebot erst erzeugen? Diese sensible und zugleich mutige Reportage lässt Opfer zu Wort kommen, bringt erschreckende Details ans Tageslicht und zeigt: Wir können etwas tun. Wer diese unerträglichen Verbrechen an Frauen und Kindern nicht länger akzeptieren will, ist aufgefordert zu handeln.
2005, 176 Seiten, Kt | kartoniert (Book - softback)
ISBN: 3466306914
Preis: EUR 14,95 // SFR 27,30
bestellbar bei Koesel
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
The Sex-Scene in Dubai - far away from the Qur'an
From: ****@*******.***
To: witness@ex-oriente-lux.org
Subject: Dubai sex scene
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005
Goodday,
I'm reading your website with (a lot) of interest. A pity I 'discovered' it only now. I just would like to share some 'experiences' with you. I've lived in Dubai, U.A.E. for more than 10 years and saw the sex industry developing there. First there was only some hidden prostitution with mostly Arab (from N-Africa and e.g. India) for mostly Arab and Indian customers. From around 1995 more and more girls from the so-called 'stan' countries showed up. Untill a certain moment they were even walking openly on the street. Really unbelievable for a moslim country where you here 5 times a day the mullah's calling for prayer from their towers and Islam is everything and everywhere in society.
Now, 2005, Chinese girls are walking, dozens at the same time, at 3 am trying to sell themselves for as little as US$ 30. There are numerous nightclubs and pubs where you can pick up a girl from e.g. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan or Russia, etc. Prostitution is presently a very established and profitable business segment of Dubai's society. It's actually unthinkable without it! Its generally an accepted idea that hookers are THE attraction of Dubai and very good for business in general. Arabs from neighbouring countries will choose now the emirate of Dubai above all others for doing their (other) business! My personal estimation (shared by others) is that there are at least 10.000 sex-workers in Dubai alone. Since I've been in many of these bars numerous times, I also spoke a lot with all kinds of these girls and can write a book of the stories I've heard from them. I was even invited on their parties and birthday's and sometimes 'consulted' for advise on all kind of subjects. Some of the stories were very bad and tragic, some not so sad. At least to me, since I must say that I still dont understand many of these girls their motivation (to stay). Apart from the economic reasons of course, no work - no bread.
Please take into consideration that most girls I spoke are not forced in the sense of threats with violence and kept against their free will, although I heard about first handedly. Most of them are more or less voluntary still there. I say 'more or less' because almost all of them came there on a 'contract'. Usually they had to pay 6 to 8 thousand dollars when they arrived. Most of them were 'free' in about 2 to 4 months. Than they stayed and work independantly, without 'boss'. Even if they are sometimes treated very bad. Rape, beatings, robbed, illegal stay, etc. They very very seldomly go to the police for all those reasons already mentioned on your website.
I know for a fact that many policeman have one of these girls as their 'girlfriend' and sometimes even protect them. The simple fact is that if they go back to their country they have no or very little income compared to what they can earn in the UAE. And don't forget the 'glamour' of the 'good' life in Dubai.
If you're origin is from a low-class social family and never tasted a good steak in your life and now can eat them almost everyday, what would one choose?
It's a shame I dont find a NGO for the U.A.E. in your list. Is there such a thing there actually? I know that Dubai police admits prostitution is a severe problem in Dubai, but I dont believe they are too serious in trying to finish it. Why?
One example. There is a famous huge discotheque in Dubai (name:Cyclone) where untill short, police was handling the busy traffic as a result of all the last-minute-business dealings at closing time (3 am). If it was not so sad, it was almost really funny! So, nobody go's to or tells the police anything if not absolutely necesarry.
I can tell you a lot more, but not now. If you are interested in more of the Dubai sex-scene or have specific questions, you can reach me on my address: ****@*******.***
Greetings, ********
PS: Yes, I was a 'john', sometimes. And now actually I have a relationship, 3 years already, with an ex-sexworker met in Dubai. That explains partly my interest.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
A witness account from a woman who went through the cruel machinery of prostitution, pimping and law enforcement
Hi. I ran across you site after reading a testimony from human trafficking.com. It is very good feeling when you see sites such as yours trying to bring awareness and promote understanding of this very difficult subject. I am a survivor of forced prostitution, although I consider myself to be one of the lucky ones and my experiences were mild compared to most, they have been the reason for compassion on bringing the harsh realities of forced prostitution to my community.
Here is my story:
No child wakes up in the morning and says I want to be a hooker when I grow up.
No body wants to have sex with 5 or even 10 strange men everyday. There is an endless amount of reasons why people end up prostituting themselves.
Running away from a home filled with incest, sexual and physical abuse, drug addictions, or being homeless and feeling like they are left with no other option.
Imagine living from minute to minute, waking up each morning and asking your-self, "am I going to live to see this afternoon"?
Imagine having to trust a complete stranger enough to get into his vehicle and go to a secluded place - not knowing what could possibly happen. Coming home each night and scrubbing your skin raw just to try and feel clean.
The rapes, stabbings, and beatings that prostitutes suffer do not stop them from taking the same risks over and over. What prevents this is their silence.
How the Pimp 'n Ho game works:
A pimp seeks out a young girl usually a runaway or loner. He shows off his fancy car, clothes, jewelry, and money leading her to believe that she too can achieve a life of luxury.
At the first opportunity he moves her from her hometown to an unfamiliar state - where he is the only thing that looks familiar.
There they start the abuse becoming physically and sexually violent forcing them into unwanted sex. He controls where she goes, what she does, and whom she can speak to he takes all of her money so she is financially dependent on him hoping to prevent her escaping.
I have seen all of this and I have experienced it. I too believed the lies that were told to me. I too was beaten if I didn't have enough money at the end of the day. For nearly six horrifying years I survived the brutal rapes, assaults, and harassment.
I survived the fear and torment from a man that promised to kill our daughter and me if I ever left him. I survived threats and intimidation from other pimps, strangers and police. I survived being drug from state to state and forced to prostitute myself.
I survived being sexually exploited and being treated as no more than a piece of human garbage. I would actually say that I am one of the lucky ones and my experiences were mild compared to what others like me have been through. I am still alive today.
Leaving prostitution is by far harder than to be introduced. When I left LA I left with my daughter and one bag. I returned to Seattle to no where to go, and the pimp that I just left had turned all of my friends against me. I felt that I was left with only one option.
I thought about getting a job, but how was I going to pay rent until my first paycheck? Who would hire a convicted prostitute? Would minimum wage cover all of the monthly expenses as far as rent, utilities and childcare? Who would rent to me with no rental history and working a job that paid minimum wage? I felt like there was no other way to make ends meet so I continued to prostitute myself.
I was arrested in October of 2001, and the prosecutor was asking the judge to give me a 60-day sentence. At my arraignment I pled not guilty. The Judge accepted my plea and tried to issue me a SOAP order. I explained that I had been living on Pacific Hwy South for several months and that a SOAP order would interfere with mine and my children's living situation. He had said that the environment was not a good place to raise my children and I shouldn't be prostituting myself with kids to raise.
Without any facts he had already determined that I was a prostitute. Doesn't the law say that one is to be presumed innocent until proven guilty?
Now I was ready to give up. My kids deserved so much better than I could give them. I felt lucky to be alive. That's when I met Tony.
He showed me that I my life wasn't over. He made me feel like no one had ever made me feel. He wasn't there to use me. I didn't feel like a 'dirt whore' when I was with him. Most of all he didn't feel sorry for me, he saw through the mask that I wore.
I called a local shelter and went to live there. While living at the shelter I applied to a couple transitional living programs and was accepted through the YWCA. The program requires a monthly service fee, which is 30% of my monthly income. For 20 hours each week, I am required to be in school, working, or working on my mental health. I meet with a case manager once a week to set weekly goals and see how things are going.
Seattle Mental Health Center is where I was diagnosed with agoraphobia with panic disorder. I take 100mg of Zoloft everyday to help to be able to walk out my front door.
I believe that if it weren't for Tony and the YWCA, I wouldn't be here today. Imagine if there were a safe place similar to the YWCA for these women to escape to. I see a city with fewer victims of exploitation and violence. I see fewer victims of people like Gary Ridgeway to stalk. Sometimes people are dealt a life they don't deserve, why does this mean they can't be given the chance at a better one?
Would you mind if I put your link onto my site?
Your work and dedication has helped or inspired many others I'm sure of it.
Jen *******
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Report of a client in Amsterdam
Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2005
To: witness@ex-oriente-lux.org
From: ******@*******.**
Hi, I’m from the Netherlands.
I have visited prostitutes too. While I did that, every time I visited a prostitute, I read an article in magazines about human trafficking. As if I was sent messages from ‘above’. I visited window-prostitutes in the red light district of Amsterdam (“de Wallen”). I have visited three prostitutes. One prostitute I visited came from Latvia. She was very friendly and even gave me compliments. Strange foreign men stood before her window. I only later realised those men could be her pimps after I read an article shortly thereafter about a victim of human trafficking from, you guessed, Latvia. I even fantasised about rescuing her, but obviously that plan didn’t materialize. I didn’t want to have such an experience again. I started to read books about prostitution and human trafficking. I was trying to find information about which spots I could avoid best. There was one book about human trafficking in which it was said that there were only a 1000 victims of human trafficking in the Netherlands. There are 20.000 prostitutes in the Netherlands. That means only five percent of the prostitutes is a victim of human trafficking. I felt relieved. I went to the red light district again. After I had sex with the prostitute I asked her if she had a pimp. No, she didn’t have……but, then came the revelation, she said many girls who work there have a pimp. I was totally shocked.
I frantically looked for more information about prostitution, especially window prostitution. I read about a Christian organisation of aid-workers called the “Scharlaken Koord”. They have contacts with many prostitutes in the red light district of Amsterdam. They revealed half of the prostitutes hand over all of their income to their pimps. Of the Dutch window prostitutes, 87 percent was introduced into prostitution by so-called loverboys(pimps who use romantic techniques to persuade a girl to work for him as a prostitute). And those are the Dutch prostitutes.
I have found much more evidence in literature to prove what the Scharlaken Koord and the prostitute I’ve spoken with are true. A ‘loverboy’ who worked in the red light district of Amsterdam even estimated 80 percent of the prostitutes who work there have a pimp. He even said the Dutch government made it too easy for pimps and human traffickers by legalizing prostitution.
It was difficult for me to find information about indoor-brothels (window prostitution not included). Suddenly I found a web-log of an ex-prostitute who has worked in 2 brothels. She revealed that the majority of the prostitutes who worked there were forced. Either by a drug-habit or by their boyfriends. I previously believed forced prostitution in indoor-brothels occurred much less than in window-prostitution. I was enraged.
I turned my attention to a large consumer-site for prostitute-clients. I went into discussion with them. I believed most prostitutes are forced, and I believed it would be better if men don’t visit prostitutes anymore. If men don’t visit prostitutes, there would be no forced prostitution anymore. A real prostitute responded, and she said she rarely met prostitutes who were coerced into sexwork. But aside from that, what I find shocking is that basically most clients aren’t interested if a prostitutes has been coerced or not. And the reason is horrific and in a sense awfully true. Their line of thinking goes like this: if I buy a bar of chocolate. Do I wonder where the cacao comes from? Well….the cacao is made by slaves in Ivory Coast. Do I bother about them when I eat chocolate? As a matter of fact, many products you buy in the store are made under almost slavery-like conditions. Do I bother about the workers who made this stuff when I buy all these things in the store??? Of course not!!!!.......... Then why should I bother about the prostitute?
And the funny thing is that the ‘voluntary’ prostitutes who also joined the discussion basically agreed with them. Their line of thinking is that a client is not responsible for the prostitute being forced or not. It’s not his fault.
I believe if so many people think in this manner, that as long men keep visiting prostitutes, human trafficking is here to stay.
I’m cynical.
And oh, by the way. It’s very difficult for a prostitute-client to distinguish between a voluntary and a forced prostitute. I am busy for almost a year to find out which place I can go best to visit a prostitute without risk of visiting a trafficked woman. I have a box full of books about prostitution. And still no answers. There’s no information. The only information I could hold on to is that the average trafficked woman is much younger than the average prostitute in general, 23 years and 28 years respectively. That means, I can reduce the chance of visiting a trafficked woman by visiting older prostitutes. That’s the only guideline I have for now. Still, I don’t dare to visit prostitutes anymore.
Some extra comments: It's really really almost impossible to see if a prostitute has been coerced or not. Trafficked women can hide very well what's really going in. I'm in contact with many prostitute-clients via the internet and they are saying the same thing.
Greetings...
******
Friday, June 10, 2005
There is never enough trouble in Bulgaria: a witness talks
From: ****@********.***
To: help@ex-oriente-lux.org
Subject: prostitutes
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005
I have just returned from varna with friends and was surprised at the number of prostitutes on party street. On two occasions I sat outside a bar with a prostitute who took a shine tome, one hour on one night and about two hours on the following night. I made it clear that i did not pay for sex but i bought her a few drinks, a packet of cigarettes and gave her ten leve for some food. I did not realise that the pimps were observing us, and on the second night myself and my freinds were followed by what i thought were pimps or mafia?
we gave them the slip, and on the third night we were followed by many more big guys, and had to seek refuge in a hotel. we were in fear of our lives. (i assume it was because i had wasted three hours of her time and not paid her)
She was not out the third night and we assume that she had taken a beating. She (Julia) gave me her mobile number and told me that she loved me. I felt that she was affraid and being bullied into what she was doing. I have rung her but she does not speak much English, I have text her but have had no reply. I feel for this girl, and am worried about her safety. I would bring her to the uk if i could. Is there anything that can be done?
Thursday, April 21, 2005
A man fighting for a woman in Bulgaria
From: ****@*****.***
Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005
Subject: Dilemma.
To: witness@ex-oriente-lux.org
Dear Sir or Madam,
Just to say that after reading your q&a, so many things are familiar. I did not have sex with a minor, but the girl from Bulgaria i was involved with for two years has recently lapsed back into prostitution, for this time i gave monetary assistance because i believed she had been conditioned by her boss, I am about to have a second article published in the newspaper "24 Hours' in Bulgaria.
This girl is returning home soon after being taken to Switzerland by her boss.
I have given testimony against him in Bulgaria,maybe this will help stop him, but i worry for her mental health now.She may need professional help, 'Where can she go? i am trying to work a solution out with her family to take her back,but this alone may not be enough, i feel she will be a target for others even if this boss is locked up..
I will assist your efforts all i can as i am very passionate about this girls future.
You may contact me any time with any questions.
Yours sincerely,
*******
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Stellungnahme eines Users
From: *****\*******.**
To: witness@ex-oriente-lux.org
Subject: // Zeugenaussagen //
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005
Hallo!
Ich komm mal gleich zur Sache: Ich nehme ab und zu Dienste von Prostituierten in Anspruch. Ist ja im Grunde genommen nicht illegal und ob es nun moralisch verwerflich ist, steht hier nicht zur Diskussion.
Ich bin nun das erste mal mit einem Fall von Zwangsprostitution in Berührung gekommen. Das es sich in diesem Fall um Zwangsprostitution handelt ist offensichtlich; es liegt hier auch ein Fall von sichtbarer körperlicher Mißhandlung vor. Ich möchte der betroffenen Person gerne helfen, nur habe ich folgendes Problem: Die Person kann weder Deutsch noch Englisch; nicht mal einfachste Wörter. Ich denke mal, wenn ich die Person einfach bei der Polizei abliefere, hilft das auch nicht. Sie werden sicher aus eigener Erfahrung wissen, dass die Betroffenen Frauen kein großes Vertrauen in die Polizei haben. Jetzt habe ich intensivst im Internet geschaut, ob es nicht Informationen oder Broschüren oder ähnliches für solche betroffenen Frauen in der jeweiligen Landessprache gibt. Am besten zum herunterladen und nicht zum Postversand; die Freier wollen schließlich anonym bleiben. Und was hab ich gefunden? Praktisch nichts ! Auf Ihrer SOS-Seite sind gerade mal vier Zeilen in der jeweiliegen Landessprache und "wichtige Sprachen" wie z.B. polnisch oder russisch sind überhaupt nicht vorhanden! Wenn ich einer betroffenen Frau diese vier Zeilen vor die Nase halte, wird sie sicherlich nicht davon überzeugt werdem sich bei Ihnen zu melden geschweige denn, sich mir anvertrauen. Ich muß der Frau dann doch etwas überzeugendere Tatsachen vorzeigen können, wie sichere Unterbringung, ärztliche Versorgung, Rechtsschutz usw.
Zusammenfassend: Es fehlen Informationen in der jeweiligen Landessprache zum herunterladen, ausdrucken und zum überreichen (durch hilfsbereite Freier) an die betroffene Person. Sie werden sicherlich auf diese Art und Weise viel mehr Fälle von Zwangsprostitution aufdecken. Denn die Freier sind (und das wollen Sie sicherlich nicht abstreiten) viel näher dran am Geschehen als Sie.
Sie dürfen allerdings alle Freier auch nicht in einen Topf werfen. Es gibt sicherlich genug Personen wie mich, die helfen wollen, denen aber einfach nicht die Möglichkeiten dazu geboten werden.
Was die fehlenden Übersetzungen auf Ihrer Seite angeht: Schauen Sie doch mal in die Gelben Seiten: es gibt massenhaft Übersetzungsbüros für alle Sprachen. Ich bin sicher, daß diese für das Übersetzen Ihrer vier Zeilen kein Geld verlangen, wenn Sie darlegen, daß es für eine gute Sache ist. Oder Fragen Sie bei den entsprechenden Konsulaten nach! Das ist doch kein Zustand, daß gerade russiche und polnische Übersetzungen fehlen!
Bedenken Sie bitte: Solange wie diese Übersetzungen oder die von mir gesuchten Informationen nicht greifbar sind, solange werden etliche Frauen das Ihnen bekannte Schicksal weiter durchleiden müssen !
Sofern Sie wissen, wo es im Internet solche Informationen in den jeweiligen Landessprachen gibt, wäre ich für Ihre Rückäußerung dankbar.
Archive:
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latest entries
This FORUM is an opportunity to post stories, messages and news from the anti-trafficking front. We place here latest testimonies, before we add them to the archive. We also hope that single witnesses or NGOs from around the whole world will send us material that will help to make the world wide character of trafficking in women visible and imaginable for every reader.
The Street Watch is not language oriented. You can post here in every language. The dominating languages are english and german at the moment.
Sex Workers: For women who have chosen sex work as a way to earn a living and who do not regard themselves as FORCED to it, the existence of trafficking in women and forced prostitution is an unwelcome problem. The destruction of the price level, the growing violence and the marginalization and illegalization of the "scene" are the result. Sex workers have the opportunity to report those things anonymously.
NGOs: For people working on the anti-trafficking front this page is both a source and opportunity. You can find current news (press, people's testimonies) but you can also make your own material public here.
Johns/customers: Many customers of prostitutes believe that women must not be forced and seek only those who have chosen sex work as a way to earn a living. Johns can see a lot, they get inside of clubs where many NGOs never get. So their attention, support and knowledge is important. Those of you, who like to help: just write an mail from any of your "blank" mail accounts (yahoo, hotmail, GMX.de, etc.).
Interested readers: If you are just an interested reader who wants to contribute - feel free to write. If you have found interesting news, articles and websites on the web, just write a mail. We'll be grateful.
