Mam shares tales of human trafficking

International human activist comes to U.S. for launching of new organization in battle for human rights

Nov. 21, 2007

By Ashton Do, AsiaXpress.com

DENVER – Author and activist Somaly Mam spoke Nov. 9 at the St. John Francis Regis Chapel about the severity of human trafficking and the emerging battle against it.

"What is a victim? How does a victim feel?" Mam asked. "To be a victim, is to be a victim for life."

Mam came to the United States on a two-week promotional tour for the Somaly Mam Foundation, which ended Nov. 10 with an appearance on “The Tyra Banks Show.” Her organization, the realization of a dream by Air Force alumni Nicholas Lumpp and Jared Greenberg, launched Nov. 7 at a United Nations conference in New York City.

The Somaly Mam Foundation will bring in needed money to fund Mam's organization in Southeast Asia, Acting for Women in Distressing Situations (AFESIP). AFESIP's mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and reintegrate young victims of the sex slave trade into society. To date, more than 3,000 girls have been saved.

"We want to give the victims financial independence and then teach them how to say 'no' with the people because in Cambodia, we cannot say 'no’ … we have to sacrifice our lives for the family," she said. " … And teach them that they have rights, rights of life."

After careful analysis of AFESIP's current assets and operating costs, it became apparent that the organization would be on track for financial hardship within the next two months, Greenberg noted at the end of the presentation.

"Last year, two of (Mam's) five shelters closed because of funding," he said. "That's not going to happen again."

Mam said her own experience as a young sex slave was filled with rape, torture and unspeakable abuse. But as an internationally recognized icon in the fight against human trafficking, she has told her story several times before. Standing before a full house of more than 500 attendees in the chapel, she hesitated.

"I was born without a family," she began. A long pause followed as she took in a deep breath, her eyes visibly watery at the podium.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I just want to say thank you. If you want to know me more, you can go to (my) website, somaly.org. You can see all of my activities (there), but today I am out already. Today I'm out."

Mam then revealed that a 7-year-old girl was dying back at her home in Cambodia. On her deathbed, the girl wanted to see Mam once more, but Mam was unable to be there for her.

"The doctor said to me she is going to die and she is now in the hospital for today," she said. "So, I don't know how to speak with you … but we need your help."

The reality of the war-torn poverty, both in Cambodia and other parts of the world, she said, is that young girls are suffering and dying by the hand of widespread sexual slavery.

Mam called a young girl to the podium. She, too, was a victim and survivor of sexual slavery. With the help of an interpreter, the young girl expressed gratitude to Mam, and to Lumpp and Greenberg, who were crucial to a new American-based organization against sex slavery.

"They're not my parents but they love me like their own kid. And my mother, she didn't like me," the girl said, trembling. "She didn't love me, she sold me."

Tom Reynolds, vice president of University Mission at Regis, started the evening with a formal introduction of notable individuals and sponsors for the presentation, including several internal departments and SASSY 107.1FM.

After a brief clip from CNN about Mam, Regis University President Michael Sheeran took the microphone to present an honorary doctorate to the human activist.

"For your continuing efforts to bring change and make a real difference in our world, for your enduring commitment to the service of the people," Sheeran said, "the Board of Trustees of Regis University, by virtue of the authority vested in it, does hereby confer on Somaly Mam the doctorate of public service."

She took the stage, clutching the diploma with both hands.

"Wow," she said. "Thank you everyone – you cannot imagine how much I am so happy. It was my dream. When I was young, I saw all the other children go to school and I just cried because I had to work, I had to be slave, I had been exploited by my grandfather."

For more information on the Somaly Mam Foundation, visit http://www.somaly.org.

Ashton Do is an assistant editor for AsiaXpress.com. Ashton can be reached at Ashton.Do@asiaxpress.com.