Malawi WhatsApp Group, Run By New Hampshire Activist, Saves Human Trafficking Victims In Oman — Plea For Help First Came On Facebook

In a shocking revelation, a 32-year-old Malawian woman has narrated her ordeal of abuse and exploitation as a domestic worker in Oman. This incident has brought to light the rampant human trafficking of female domestic workers in the Gulf Arab states.

What Happened: The woman, known as Georgina, was lured into a job as a driver in Dubai, but ended up enslaved in Oman, as per a BBC report. She was forced to work long hours and was sexually abused. The U.S. State Department’s 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report indicates that nearly all of the estimated two million female domestic workers in the Gulf Arab states are victims of human trafficking.

Georgina’s plea for help on Facebook was noticed by Pililani Mombe Nyoni, a Malawian social media activist based in New Hampshire. Nyoni initiated an investigation and created a WhatsApp group to assist human trafficking victims in Oman. Over 50 Malawian women joined the group, recounting their experiences of dreadful conditions and abuse.

Thanks to Nyoni and human trafficking charities, Georgina returned to Malawi after three months. Her case has sparked awareness and put pressure on the Malawian government to take action. In partnership with the Greek-based charity Do Bold, the government has reportedly spent over $160,000 to repatriate 54 women from Oman.

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Why It Matters: This incident underscores the power of social media in addressing pressing issues such as human trafficking. Similar to a WhatsApp group created by midwives in Papua New Guinea to share life-saving information.

Cherolyn Polomon, a rural midwife, initiated the group to provide mentorship and peer support, connecting rural midwives with healthcare professionals from urban centers, reported ABC News Australia. The initiative aimed to tackle PNG’s high maternal and newborn mortality rates, enhancing patient referrals and reducing regional transfers by improving communication and knowledge-sharing among midwives.

Meanwhile, yoni’s group has become a platform for Malawian victims to share their experiences and seek help. However, despite these efforts, the problem of human trafficking persists, highlighting the dire socio-economic conditions in Malawi. As Nyoni stated, “We need to fix the nation so that these youngsters will never be trapped like this.”

Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com

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