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Chanlina

2016 (Narrative date)

The Global Slavery Index 2018 estimates that on any given day in 2016 there were over 3.8 million people living in conditions of modern slavery in China. Women and girls from South Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa are trafficked in to forced marriage in the country for fees of up to £30,000. The gender imbalance caused by the One Child Policy and the cultural preference for male children, has caused a shortage of women which has led to the trafficking of women to be sold as brides. As a result, many women find themselves either deceived by promises of employment, sold or abducted and forced into marrying Chinese men who have paid for them. 

Chanlina was trafficked to China and forced to marry a Chinese man. She tells of how she planned her escape.

The situation was deteriorating. I was frustrated and decided to leave. I contacted the consulate for support, however they couldn’t help me unless I presented myself at the office. I planned my escape. I pretended to be nicer to the family and built trust once again [she had attempted an earlier escape]. When they paid less attention to me, I sneaked out through the backyard, found the way to the bus station and headed to the consulate.

 

Narrative provided by UN-ACT report Human Trafficking Vulnerabilities in Asia