We had has successfully conducted two rescues and repatriations. The rescue of the two survivors illustrates the broader success of our presence and involvement within the community. Information of the two survivors was passed to us as a result the good relationship between us and former survivors as well as Lao women who reside in China.
The survivors are two young girls of 16 and 17 years respectively. The one girl had lived in China for two years and the other girl had lived in China for three years. Both girls were from Vientiane province. Their ages on their official documents were changed by their traffickers in order to make them adults so that they would be able to travel.
The 16-year-old girl contacted us for help on 9 January 2022. After significant communication and planning, we managed to rescue her from a maternity hospital on 8 February 2022. Thereafter she was brought to the Lao embassy in Kunming. On 12 February 2022, she safely returned to her family in Lao PDR.
Survivor arriving at Lao embassy in Changsha.
Lao embassy official accompanying survivors to Lao-Chinese border
The 17-year-old girl contacted us on 20 February 2022. We rescued the girl from her husband’s house in Shanghai on 28 February 2022 and brought her to Lao embassy in Changsha on 1 March 2022. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions in China, her repatriation was prolonged. She was able to reach her home in Lao PDR on 6 April 2002.
Each survivor had endured maltreatment, restrictions placed on their personal freedoms, rape and forced pregnancy.
These cases are not only reflective of the success we have had with individual rescues and repartitions but also shows the good will we have built in the communities in which we operate. We have developed trust and strong relationships within a network of women, both Lao women in China and our former survivors of forced marriage. It is because of this that we are able to rescue and provide assistance to women and girls who are in need for help.
