pretence that they will be working as nannies or in
factories – but often end up working the streets as
prostitutes.
Their plight has been highlighted by Paris-based
photographer Elena Perlino, originally from Italy, who
began to notice the presence of young African women
working on the streets during her commutes from Turin.
She said: 'I decided to start from this surreal vision to
tell a story. I have been working on the topic for several
years, focusing mainly on the Italian connection.'
Perlino reveals that many Nigerian women come to Italy
hoping to make enough money from honest work as
nannies or factory workers to support their families back
home, but are tricked by traffickers into working in the sex
trade.
Eighty per cent of women trafficked to Italy come from
Benin City, Edo State, in south Nigeria.
The photographer explained: 'My work attempts to show a
complex phenomenon that crosses Italy from North to
South.
'This involves many cities including Turin, Milan, Genoa,
Rome, Naples and Palermo and thousands of Nigerian and
Italian people.'
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime declared
Nigeria among the top eight countries with the highest
human trafficking rates in the world.
Traffickers demand on average more than 50,000 euros
(US $60,000) for travel expenses and accommodation, with
the women having to work as prostitutes until their debts
are paid off.
Eighty per cent of women trafficked to Italy come from
Benin City, Edo State, in south Nigeria.
The photographer explained: 'My work attempts to show a
complex phenomenon that crosses Italy from North to
South.
'
This involves many cities including Turin, Milan, Genoa,
Rome, Naples and Palermo and thousands of Nigerian and
Italian people.'
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime declared
Nigeria among the top eight countries with the highest
human trafficking rates in the world.
Culled from UK Daily Mail
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