2006年VOA标准英语-Nigerian Women Trafficked to Europe for Sex Tra

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
26 September 2006

		billboard1 encouraging young women to fight against prostitution, in Benin City, Nigeria " src="/upimg/allimg/070428/1418300.jpg" width="210" border="0" /> Student at Benin University walks past a billboard encouraging young women to fight against prostitution, in Benin City, Nigeria

The International Organization for Migration² says poverty, crime, corruption³, and violence are driving thousands of people to emigrate from Nigeria, with young women particularly vulnerable to trafficking for sexual exploitation. The report says most of the victims come from Edo State in Southern Nigeria, with Benin City as the main source of women trafficked for prostitution. 

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The International Organization for Migration says Nigerian women are becoming increasingly aware they will be working in the sex business when offered jobs in Europe. But, it says job opportunities at home are limited and young women often are the sole support of their families.

The report says one unique feature of Nigerian trafficking is the creation of a so-called binding⁴ pact⁵ that both sides have to honor. It says most of the women incur⁶ debts of between $40,000- and $100,000 to traffickers in their bid to reach Europe.

Under this pact, the victim has to pay off the debt regardless of what is suffered along the way. In return, the trafficker has to let the victim earn money for herself after the debt has been paid.

IOM spokeswoman, Jemini Pandya, says a woman who does not do the trafficker's bidding when she arrives in Europe can be exposed to a mixture of violence and coercive religious rituals.

"What these rituals really do is instill a sense of fear into the women. And it plays also on their psychological state of health. And, for the victim, breaking this pact, they feel that they cannot break this pact. Not just because of the damage it could do to them mentally and physically⁷, but also because the shame of what it would actually bring to the communities at home," she said.  "What happens is the pact is not just with the woman, it is with the family and the family in the community itself. The benefits of any money that the woman sends home affects the whole community at large."

The report finds the two major countries of destination in Europe are Britain and Italy, followed by the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Austria and France. But, it says Italy is the most important destination for Nigerian victims of trafficking. It estimates about one quarter to one half of the foreign prostitutes are from Nigeria.

IOM's Jemini Pandya, says Nigerian trafficking is organized primarily by women who, themselves, had been victims of trafficking.

"After they had themselves paid off the debt, which can actually take anything up to three years, they find it obviously difficult to find other kinds of work in Europe that either pays as much as the money they would earn from prostituting or just because they simply do not have any skills because they might not necessarily have any education," added Pandya.

The report notes traffickers are finding it more difficult to recruit women from urban areas because they are becoming more aware of the dangers that await them. So, it says they are turning to rural areas where women and girls have less access to information, are usually poorer and often easier to influence through religious rituals.

1 billboard   

n.布告板，揭示栏，广告牌

参考例句：

• He ploughed his energies into his father's billboard business.他把精力投入到父亲的广告牌业务中。
• Billboard spreads will be simpler and more eye-catching.广告牌广告会比较简单且更引人注目。

2 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

3 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

4 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

5 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

6 incur   

vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇

参考例句：

• Any costs that you incur will be reimbursed in full.你的所有花费都将全额付还。
• An enterprise has to incur certain costs and expenses in order to stay in business.一个企业为了维持营业,就不得不承担一定的费用和开支。

7 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。