UNICEF: Tackling Child Trafficking in Kyrgyzstan
Children are at risk of trafficking in Kyrgyzstan due to gaps in the country's child protection system. The UNICEF-supported Rehabilitation Center for Homeless and Disadvantaged Children helps care for children who are most at risk. The World Congress III Against the Sexual Exploitation of Children, set for 25-28 November 2008 in Brazil, aims to promote international cooperation for more effective action on sexual exploitation.
Shotlist:
Script
[NOTE: Name changed to "Rumilya."]
18 year old Rumilya sings with a broken heart. The life story of this teenager from Kyrgyzstan is one of tragedy and exploitation.
Rumilya comes from a family torn apart by poverty, alcohol and crime. Her childhood was lost to human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. Rumilya's mother was convicted of petty theft. While in detention she met a woman nearing the end of her sentence who offered to look after Rumilya and her elder sister Julia. This was the first step towards an intricate web of deception leading to Rumilya and her sister being trafficked to the United Arab Emirates and forced into prostitution. At the time Julia was 16... and Rumilya, just 12 years old. Rumilya says the traffickers tricked them saying they could work as waitresses in Dubai. SOUNDBITE: "Rumilya" (Russian)
"She showed us nice photos of the country and said we could lead a good life. There are beautiful girls, nice clothes and we could help our mother. She didn't explain what we'd really be doing there. That's why I was really excited about going."
Undaunted by her age and obvious immaturity, the traffickers marketed Rumilya in photos to wealthy clients seeking virgins. She was eventually sold to an Iranian businessman: 12-thousand dollars for 10 days. He raped Rumilya on the second night.
Rumilya says life soon afterwards became a nightmare working in a brothel. Both she and her sister were forced to have sex with up to a dozen men a day. Refusal to work was punished with beatings.
SOUNDBITE: "Rumilya" (Russian):
"When clients came to the brothel, we tried to lock the doors or hide. Like a child I tried once to threaten one of the pimps saying: "You'd better let me go or you'll be in trouble!" But she stopped me and said if you don't obey us we'll give you to any man. You have no passport, no money and you can't go anywhere."
Rumilya's experience though is far from uncommon for children trafficked from Kyrgyzstan.
A recent UNICEF report points to a lack accurate and reliable data available on child trafficking in Kyrgyzstan.
The report also recommends supporting local communities to prevent commercial sexual exploitation of children.
SOUNDBITE: TIM SCHAFFTER, UNICEF COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE:
"It's important that families and communities are aware of the risk. Aware that there're people actively recruiting for commercial sexual exploitation. So awareness at a community level."
At the Center for Homeless Children in the capital Bishkek, Rumilya began to rebuild her life. The center is supported by UNICEF and offers vulnerable children protection and psychological counselling. Performing arts serve as an important therapy for children traumatised by violence or exploitation.
SOUNDBITE: (RUSSIAN) Alexi Petrushevski, Director, Center for Homeless Children, Bishkek:
"We can clearly see that the therapy really works and helps children to find their own place in society and raise their self esteem, to understand that they can do something good."
Since leaving the center in 2005 however, life has been far from easy for Rumilya.
Her sister Julia, with whom she endured so much, was recently murdered.
For now, she takes comfort that the days of forced prostitution in Dubai are behind her.
Rumilya hopes she can continue to cope with the painful memories of sexual exploitation that no child should have to experience.
Shotlist
1. MS Rumilya sitting at piano singing 2. CU Rumilya's eyes 3. MCU looking up at Rumilya 4. MCU Rumilya reading song lyrics 5. CU Rumilya's lips 6. CU side of Rumilya's eye and hairline 7. Pan right to left across Rumilya reading lyrics 8. Long shot Bishkek bazaar 9. CU Rumilya looking out car window 10. MS through front of car 11. Extreme CU Rumilya's eyes
12. Pan left to right across sign for Dubai to departure TV monitor 13. SOUNDBITE: "Rumilya" (Russian):
"She showed us nice photos of the country and said we could lead a good life. There are beautiful girls, nice clothes and we could help our mother. She didn't explain what we'd really be doing there. That's why I was really excited about going."
14. CU Rumilya's hand hold bench 15. Extreme CU Rumilya's eyes 16. MCU looking up at Rumilya sitting on bench 17. Pull from extreme CU of back of Rumilya's ear to child 18. Long shot Rumilya walking past camera
19. SOUNDBITE: "Rumilya" (Russian):
"When clients came to the brothel, we tried to lock the doors or hide. Like a child I tried once to threaten one of the madams saying: 'You'd better let me go or you'll be in trouble!' But she stopped me and said if you don't obey us we'll give you to any man. You have no passport, no money and you can't go anywhere."
20. MCU children at Centre for Homeless Children Bishkek 21. CU cover of Child Trafficking report 22. Tilt down across Child Trafficking report 23. SOUNDBITE: TIM SCHAFFTER, UNICEF COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE:
"It's important that families and communities are aware of the risk. Aware that there're people actively recruiting for commercial sexual exploitation."
24. MCU reflection of Rumilya in puddle 25. Reverse shot of Rumilya looking into puddle 26. MS reflection of Rumilya in puddle 27. MCU boys playing at Centre for Homeless Children 28. WS children eating in dining room of Center for Homeless Children 29. CU boy eating rice pudding 30. WS children performing drama
31. SOUNDBITE: (RUSSIAN) Alexi Petrushevski, Director, Center for Homeless Children, Bishkek:
"We can clearly see that the therapy really works and helps children to find their own place in society and raise their self esteem, to understand that they can do something good."
32. WS Rumilya walking past kiosk
33. MCU Rumilya's reflection in puddle walking by
34. MCU Rumilya sitting
35. MCU Rumilya's hands
36. Extreme CU Rumilya's eyes
37. Extreme CU Rumilya's lips
38. Extreme CU Rumilya's eyes
39. NATSOUND Rumilya singing chorus of song
|
