ABOUT US
Aware of her situation, we asked if we could continue to talk with her and she agreed. As we did, we learned some of Diamond’s story. She told us she had moved to Italy from Nigeria three years ago having been promised a good job. Yet when she arrived she found that she had been deceived and now would be forced to work as a sex slave. In close proximity to the man we believe was her trafficker or pimp, she subtly told us that she was not free to leave. We asked if she had anyone who could help her and with sadness in her eyes she told us no. As previously instructed by a long-term worker in the area, we had written the trafficking hotline number on the inside of our arms and we gladly showed her that there was someone she could call. I was surprised at her eagerness to write down the number. She didn’t seem to want us to leave though she was obviously being watched. When she invited us to keep talking we were able to speak with her, using our broken Italian and her broken English, about the love of God and how He is the only One who will always be there for her. We referred to the verse that was included in her card and shared the gospel.
Before we left, we asked to pray for her and she agreed. We held her hands and shoulders as we interceded for her, silently pleading with God to make her feel His Spirit through us, while praying God’s mercy, protection, and salvation over her. I remember standing there feeling like I couldn’t leave knowing the life she was returning to as we walked away. I wanted to snatch her away. But instead I offered her a hug. She seemed surprised but happy to receive what I hope was felt as a truly loving gesture in contrast to the harsh and traumatic physical acts she endures every day. We parted ways then with renewed conviction that they (and so many others) deserve better and that we wanted to be a part of what God is doing to bring these precious treasures justice.
*Name changed to protect the innocent
Treasures in Italy
The women and children enslaved in the commercial sex industry are real. They are daughters, sisters, wives, and mothers like mine and yours. They are treasures - made in the image of God, but marred by some of the cruelest forms of evil. Below is the true story of a young woman who was the first victim of sex trafficking that Erika (Coordinator of Alleanza Tesori Raggianti) personally encountered in Italy. Erika recounts her experience as she looked into the face of this beautiful woman, one of Italy’s many hidden treasures. ATR members and partners reach out to women, children and men with stories just like hers every day.
It was just after dark, in the Italian town of Pomezia. Two other teammates and I walked along a street where we expected to find treasures (prostituted persons) waiting for their customers. We had prepared small gifts and hand made cards to present to any workers we found as a way of communicating God’s love for them.
Eventually we saw a woman across the street who was clearly dressed to impress passers-by. We crossed the street and approached her quietly. She carried herself with a strange combination of confidence and vulnerabilty. We greeted her with smiles and introduced ourselves. She seemed cautious but curious as she responded politely and told us her name was Diamond*. We offered her a card and a gift telling her that we wanted her to know she was loved by God and we cared for her too. She received it happily and became visibly more relaxed and intrigued in our presence.
Alleanza Tesori Raggianti (ATR) is a network that connects established and developing evangelical ministries in Italy who are burdened by the injustice of commercial sexual exploitation in the nation of Italy and committed to making an impact to the glory of God.
There are approximately 50,000 commercially sexually exploited persons in Italy (TAMPEP, 2010). Most are women who have been forced, coerced or tricked into a life of sexual exploitation and are unable to walk away. The majority of prostituted persons are from Nigeria, Romania and Morocco and come to Italy seeking a better life through legitimate work but instead find themselves trapped in the world of sex slavery.
Alleanza Tesori Raggianti has members located throughout Italy who are combatting commercial sexual exploitation in a variety of ways from awareness campaigning to victim outreach, to survivor care and restoration. ATR exists because we believe that together we can accomplish far more than alone. We choose to be cooperative and interdependent because kingdom partnerships can leverage kingdom resources for kingdom results.
ATR offers support and encouragement to its members and partners including training initiatives to equip them to more knowingly, safely, and effectively combat trafficking. We strive to foster strategic connections resulting in greater collaboration and we desire that our members are mutually encouraged in the process. In all things, we prioritize prayer and a biblical pursuit of justice in order to push back the darkness.