EUROPE/GERMANY - MISSION AND EMIGRATION - “The suitcase tied with string”: “They promised me I would go to university here in Germany. But actually they took away my passport. They wanted me to be a prostitute and I was already pregnant …”

Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Prostitution, abuse … immigration besides being a dramatic reality is also a demonstration of the evil which grips the whole of the planet. Everywhere we heard terrible stories like this one in Germany. A young woman from Uganda speaks: “I was brought here in 2001, by a woman and a man who said he was my friend but then came the worst of the worst. They promised me I would go to university here in Germany. But actually they took away my passport. They wanted me to be a prostitute and I was already pregnant. I went to Catholic voluntary workers for help. Now my son is in safe hands. He is healthy and so am I. They gave me a place to live and with me is a good man from my country. We are content with life, although my memories remain”. A girl of 16, a little more than a child, was sold and shut up like a slave. She weeps softly, she has lived a tragic experience and she has seen other girls like her live the same experience. Her courage and determination to tell us about the pit of violence into which one can fall, give meaning to our being there with our TV cameras, so that what remains of the child in her can dry out her pain for all the world to hear. If all this happens, are we all out of the gang? (Luca De Mata) (television programme trailer “La valigia con lo spago”: a series of 4 programmes: an investigation into migratory flows and new slavery in the world: Rai Uno beginning 29 June, 2nd evening feature). (Agenzia Fides 9/7/2009; righe 10, parole 168)