Human trafficking has a long history in Fiji, dating back over years to the era of indentured labour and blackbirding, when many were forcibly brought to Fiji and exploited for labour. This was highlighted by the Butakoci Production lead, Talei Draunibaka during fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan and she stressed that the only thing people consider is that a particular person is participating in a human trafficking act and would not want to be associated with them.
Draunibaka says one thing that stands out for modern-day trafficking is the fact that even when they are trying to go to society or to people closest to them, they are pushed away.
When asked what she noticed on the ground, Draunibaka responded that human trafficking is not new, it started with the Girmit era in Fiji, which was one of the reasons why she focused on women in the Butakoci Production. She says people who came through the Girmit era went through atrocious treatments, and the way they were treated is unbelievable. Your browser does not support the audio element.
As we mark World Day Against Trafficking in Persons today, it has been revealed that there have been many cases where girls from Fiji have told their stories regarding human trafficking and, unfortunately, they do not understand that it is a crime.
Asia Foundation Program Officer, Nanise Rasuaki highlighted this on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan when asked about what she has found out on the ground about human trafficking while working with the non-government organisations. Rasuaki says when she was working with a particular NGO, she had a case where a year-old girl was sold for cash and cases that come to the NGO are usually dealing with sexual exploitation. The Program Officer further says when we talk about human trafficking there is an act, the means and the purpose which involves three elements and the act is usually through harbouring, transferring movement of a person and through coercion and manipulation.
