Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - A prayer vigil in memory of Lauretta Kikia murdered for refusing to prostitute herself has been organised by the Papa Giovanni XXIII association for Thursday 20 January 2005 at 9pm at Marinella Sarzana.
Lauretta was not even 20 when she arrived in Italy from Albania in 2002, one of many other girls hooked into the prostitution racket. After the first week she had the courage to report her situation to the police who in turn told the Papa Giovanni XXIII association started by Catholic priest Rev. Benzi which cares for girls forced onto the streets and Lauretta was immediately taken to one of the Association’s family-homes. In the next seven months Lauretta learned to speak Italian, obtained a residence permit and found a job and told the family she lived with of her dream of having a large family herself. In February 2003 despite advice from Rev. Benzi and other people to the contrary, Lauretta went home to visit her family. Once back in Albania in June 2004 she was caught again and brought back by force, once again to be a prostitute in Italy, at Marinella di Sarzana.
Three days ago Lauretta was found dead at the side of a road in Marinella. Police are still investigating the murder.
We ask how it is possible in Italy today for a girl of 21 be forced into prostitution and even killed when she refuses? For many years Rev. Benzi’s association has been helping girls trapped in the sex trade to escape. In Italy no less than 50,000 girls and women are forced to sell themselves on the streets, in night clubs, hotels, private apartments, while those who “build crosses for the powerless” are indifferent and those who could rescue these slaves show no interest and leave them to their fate .
Since 1998 the Italian town and province of Rimini are free of this scourge and soon, it is hoped, the rest of Italy will follow. These girls are forced to be prostitutes, it is never a personal choice. If in Rimini local institutions succeeded in eliminating this scourge on the streets along the seacoast which had gone on for years, why can’t other towns and cities in Italy do the same?
Fides is close to all who support Rev. Oreste Benzi, his Association and others working on this front and for its part will not fail to produce in-depth dossiers to denounce this despicable trade which offends the dignity of millions of innocent women all over the world.
(Agenzia Fides 14/01/2005 - Righe 33; Parole 450)
