Standing in the Way: From Trafficking Victim to Human Rights Activist

by Anjali Tamang

This compelling memoir shares Anjali’s incredible story of being trafficked at age twelve from her villagein Nepal to the red light areas of Kolkata, India. Despite enduring the worst abuse imaginable, todayAnjali is working to combat trafficking and protect the next generation of girls in her community. She isable to do so because of the help and healing she has received since being rescued in 2008. The storiesof the courageous people who freed her and helped in her recovery are woven into the book alongsidepersonal recollections and insights.This book explores the root causes of human trafficking and the factors in Anjali's family and community thatmade her vulnerable. It describes vividly her journey to India as a young child, and the large complexnetwork of traffickers. brothel owners and madams who were involved in selling, transporting andexploiting her.The book sensitively portrays the difficult life of a young girl in a brothel. It is suitable for readers 15 and up.Anjali was eventually rescued, and the book tells that part of the story from the perspective of the rescuers as well as the girls themselves.Anjali describes the innovative counseling and loving care that she received after being rescued, which enabled her to recover from her trauma and become a leader and activist. Anjali was able to return to Nepal, return to school and make up the many lost years of education. Now in college, she is planning to go back to her village and open a school and antitraffickingcharity that will prevent other girls in her village from having to suffer as she did.Anjali’s experiences have given her a unique perspective. While child sex trafficking is a difficult subject, the book is ultimately hopeful and inspiring.

252 pages, Paperback

Published March 9, 2023

Reviews

[Karen Shilvock-Cinefro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sad and candid story of the life of a young girl in Nepal who is sold into sex trafficking in India. Showing how this is a culture of survival and people are forced into a degradation of human being when they are sold as a commodity and discarded. “One day, walking through the red light area, he came across the body of a girl lying in the street. She was about twelve …………………The garbagemen picked up the girl’s body and threw it in their truck.”
The book, however, also tells of the organizations that have gotten started to change this horror and make a difference in so many lives. Faith and education are two main components to rescue so many. The struggle continues but the book tells of ways to help.