Duncan Hospital is another JVI lead partner, operating a JVI sponsored “Justice Hub” in Bihar along the Nepal border. Duncan Hospital is a unit of Emmanuel Hospital Association (EHA). EHA is a fellowship of institutions and individuals that exists to transform communities through caring, with primary focus on the poor and marginalized, including fighting human trafficking with JVI.
In March of 2022, the JVI Justice Hub team was contacted by other staff at Duncan Hospital concerning one of their patients, a 15-year old girl who was admitted with attempted suicide. The girl, Padma*, was severely traumatized and expressed that she had been abused by the owner of a dance orchestra. Dance orchestras are known to operate as agents of commercial sexual exploitation to supply minor and adult dancers to customers for sexual purposes.
Upon interviewing Padma, the Justice Hub team learned that she came to Bihar about a year ago with her friends and joined the orchestra group. She stated that the orchestra owner married her illegally and was physically abusive, even forcing her to have an abortion. She also shared that her brother and sister-in-law were working in the same orchestra group. JVI team members were able to connect with Padma’s brother and he shared that his wife had been taken by the orchestra and was being held against her will. Through further investigations and coordination with the local Anti-Trafficking Unit, the Justice Hub team and authorities conducted a rescue operation to retrieve his wife, Padma’s sister in-law, and arrest the accused trafficker.
The aftercare team is working with Padma and her sister in-law to provide counseling. Padma’s parents have been contacted and they are also receiving supportive services. JVI sponsored attorneys will work to ensure the trafficker is prosecuted.
*name changed to protect confidentiality
