A minor girl displayed heroic courage in court when she took the stand to testify against her trafficker. By the time her case came to trial, Riya* was 14-years old.
As a child, Riya had been abducted from her village and trapped in a brothel where she was repeatedly and violently sexually assaulted. A team of Justice Hub partners and police officials rescued her, and a team of dedicated lawyers and social workers stood by her side for justice and restoration.
At the start of trial, the trafficker’s defense lawyer humiliated Riya by attempting to paint her in a false light as though it was her fault.
And behind the scenes, the trafficker’s associates threatened the family to force them to withdraw the case.
Overwhelmed by fear, Riya and her family felt it was time to quit. One of the lawyers observed this and convinced them to not give up hope. He encouraged them that though the fight would be long and hard, justice was waiting for their daughter.
At the next hearing, Riya was visibly shaken by her trafficker’s presence in court but bravely testified to her experience of rape, assault, and exploitation. Her parents were there beside her to hear about every atrocity.
As a result of Riya’s testimony, the judge rejected the trafficker’s bail request and sentenced him to ten years imprisonment for the trafficking of a minor for sexual exploitation.
Outside the court, Riya and her parents wept and thanked the team of social workers, lawyers, police officials and NGO workers who rescued her, especially the lawyer who encouraged them not to give up and fought tirelessly to win her case. Riya is back at home with her parents and in school, her courage and tenacity a beacon of hope to those who know her story.
*Riya is a pseudonym to protect her identity.
