Cyber Trafficking and Forced Crime Victims Assistance Project in the Mekong Region

Banya (pseudonym), a young boy living in IMF, fell into the hands of human traffickers when his friend sold him out. His friend was forced by the traffickers to ‘recruit’ young people for them in order to leave their captivity. As a result, Banya was deceived and forced to be raped at least three times a day by clients and the traffickers, while being beaten and starved.

Banya was abducted with her father’s mobile phone in his hand when the traffickers snatched it away. Unsure of how to get home, with no means of contact with the outside world, and fearful of being blamed by his father, Banya was forced to follow the criminals’ instructions.

Six months later, he pretended to be unwell, and the traffickers took him to the hospital for treatment. Upon arrival at the hospital, he took the opportunity to flee and eventually went to a grocery shop to ask a stranger for help. He borrowed a mobile phone and used social media to contact a friend who had also been trafficked and rescued by IMF.

While Banya was being held by the traffickers, IMF already knew that the traffickers had several children in their possession. So IMF staff taught some of the children, including Banya’s friend, that if they came across a child who had been trafficked, they could ask IMF for help. So when Banya’s friend received his distress message, he immediately told IMF.

Afterwards, Banya stayed in a shelter and gradually recovered. He hopes to earn a living by making coffee as a profession in the future.