On April 27, 1998, France celebrated the 150 th anniversary of the ablition of the slavery.
Today, there are still slaves. They are 250 million children working in the world (for example in Pakistan making basketballs). But they are also Philippine or African girls who come in France. They work very hard, are poorly paid, eat and sleep few, are beaten and even, sometimes rapted.
How, nowadays, can people treat people this way?
Charline R. 28 years, of Malagasy nationality, worked for an influential Malagasy family in post in Paris during three years without touching any salary. Charline had only the right to go out of the residence that in the presence of her employer. She worked all days of the week from 08. 00am until midnight. Sleeping straight from the ground of the salon or on the stone floor of the kitchen, treated harshly and mistreated, not fed, Charline was never paid.
On the run for two years and a half, totally deprived and without any identity cards, Charline was first of all hosted by members of the Malagasy community. The CCEM tempted a mediation to obtain repair. Mediation proposed by a high-ranking servant of the Quay of Orsay in the name of " public interest in France and in Madagascar ". This mediation failed and the CCEM decided to put affair in justice and to alert media to protect the family of Charline in Madagascar. The two sisters of Charline knew the same situation. The CCEM obtained the regularization of Charline and her sister Mariette so that they can defend themselves in their lawsuit. The CCEM also found an apartment and work for Charline allowing her to live with dignity until the verdict of the court. The employers were indicted for " Conditions of employment, residence and opposite payments in the dignity of the person -Job of foreigners deprived of working titles - Malpractice against the monopoly of the O.M.I. " After one year and a half of instruction, the file was dismissed in audience in front of the 31-th chamber of the County court of Paris. Lawsuit will take place on February 23, 1999 at 13. 30
Asseguedech N. This Ethiopian, born in 1969, from a family of farmers Oromos, was maintained in slavery during five years in Paris region by a possessing woman double nationality djiboutienne and French, and by his common law husband, non-commissioned officer in the French army. Violated by this last one, Asseguedech gave the day to a small named girl Marie.
Leïla was born in Morocco in 1976. Taken care by her aunt from the birth, Leïla is afterward confided to her cousin who takes her in France. During several years, Leïla is going to live a real Calvary. Held, victim of multiple ill-treatment, Leïla was never schooled and knows how to either read or write. The CCEM wore these facts in the knowledge of the parquet (public prosecutor's department) of Evry. A judicial information was opened against her cousin and her husband who were indicted for " rape with torture and inhumanity, detention and usual violence on minor of less than 15 years ". They were imprisoned during several months. Instruction is always current.
Iraki Domestic. For two months, the cleaning ladies of the district fed her. Her employers, fantastically wealthy one man of business of Near East and his wife, had abandoned her to their Parisian place of residence with a sum 500 FF to earn a living. Not to put in danger the Iraqi family of this young lady (the wife of the employer is the girl of a high Iraqi dignitary), the CCEM asked the ambassador of a country of Near East to intervene so that the fundamental rights of the domestic are not scoffed any more.
This couple of Sri Lankais just maid's room lived in a small letter over the apartment of their employer, delegated permanent employee of a country of Near East with Unesco. Working 15 hours a day, 7 days on 7, they had been never paid. An agreement in the privately negotiated, negotiated by one journalist of the Figaro and the CCEM with the ambassador of the questioned country, allowed to obtain for this couple a financial compensation, and two plane tickets to return to their country.
Pedro and Adelina M. This Philippine couple was maintained in slavery by a rich national of Persian Gulf. Action in Prud current people. The CCEM, having contacted the victims, brought in since in the Filipinos, obtained a wide mandate to represent them. The intervention of the CCEM was made possible due to the action of a factory inspector scandalized by the situation of this couple, but without possibility of acting by way of its administration
A national quibbles born in 1951 in Wenzhou's region was enslaved during two years in a clandestine studio of preparation. Witness of a double murder in the Chinese community, she agreed to give evidence against the murderers in exchange for a promise of regularization of French authorities. The collaboration allowed the condemnation of the murderers to the criminal reclusion with eternity, but some months after the lawsuit, a measure of eviction struck her, as well as her husband. This one was expelled without having had the time to present an appeal in front of an administrative court. Meanwhile, their two children obtained French nationality. After a conversation with home secretary of time, the CCEM obtained in 1996 the regularization of this Chinese national.
B Berthine, a Malagasy of 32 years was held during fourteen years with a couple of Malagasies. The employer, the pensioner, was international civil servant in Unesco, his wife, secretary in the Embassy of Madagascar in Paris. The young lady was held, her papers had been seized, she has never received from salary. Apparently underfed and mistreated, the young lady weighed only 32 kg during her flight in October, 1997. Social services and CCEM took care of her. The son of the employers was indicted and imprisoned temporarily for rape. The parents were not worried because of their diplomatic immunity. The CCEM expects from the Malagasy government for a levying of their penal immunity. Berthine got back her papers, found an apartment and a new work.
Solange, une Ivoirienne, née en 1979, est arrivée en France à l'âge de 14 ans pour travailler chez des compatriotes. Solange n'a jamais été payée et n'a pas été scolarisée. Le CCEM a informé le parquet de ces faits mais celui-ci n'a pas cru devoir intervenir. Solange s'est finalement enfuie en octobre 1997 et a été prise en charge par le CCEM. A l'heure actuelle, les démarches du CCEM pour obtenir les papiers de Solange auprès de l'Ambassade de Côte-d'Ivoire ont échoué. Les employeurs de Solange ont comparu devant le tribunal correctionnel pour aide au séjour irrégulier et travail clandestin.
Solange, a native of the Ivory Coast, born in 1979, arrived in France at the age of 14 years to work at fellow countryman's. Solange was never paid and was schooled. The CCEM informed the parquet(public prosecutor's department) of these facts but this one did not believe to have to intervene. Solange ran away finally in October, 1997 and was taken care with the CCEM. At the moment, the methods of the CCEM to obtain Solange's papers with the Embassy of Côte d'Ivoire failed. The employers of Solange appeared in front of the court dealing with criminal matters for help in the irregular stay and the clandestine work.
T., an Ethiopian young lady, taken refuge politics in Uganda, was brought in Bordeaux by a Frenchman and held, then to Ris-Orangis ( Essonne) where it worked without salary in a minimarket. In the beginning of September, 97, the CCEM freed T. in the presence of a team of France 2. Frenchman, known for services of police, is at present runaway.
A national Malagasy of 44 years was exploited during three years in the place of residence of a rich businessman belonging to the indo-Pakistani community of Madagascar. The CCEM, assisted by a team of France 2, prepared the leak of the employee Malagasy and assigned the tactless employer to the Industrial arbitration court. A draft agreement was concluded between parts and a financial repair was paid to the victim. This last one returned to her country.
Aline is a native of the Ivory Coast of 19 years. Arrived in France at the age of 11 years, she worked during seven years in a family of 9 children, without perceiving the least salary, and was a victim of sexual harassing on behalf of her employer. A complaint, put down with the CCEM, led to the opening of a judicial information. Instruction is always current.
Ismah S. is Indonesian. During 15 months, she worked in the place of residence of a diplomat of the Sultanate of Oman with Unesco. During 15 months, Ismah S. knew only the closed door of the well-to-do apartment of the 16-th district of Paris. Paid 200 dollars a month, passport seized by her employer, Ismah had to work 15 at 18 o'clock a day, 7 days on 7, without any leave during 15 months. The CCEM organized the flight of Ismah. After the failure of an attempt of conciliation, affair was dismissed in front of the office of judgment of the council of Prud people where Ismah was defended(forbidden) by a trade-union councillor of CFDT(FRENCH TRADE UNION). On February 1-st, 1999 Ismah S. obtained earning of cause in gained(won) in first authority. Due to the intervention of the CCEM, Ismah found an job at a German diplomat respecting the work legislation.
Mehret K. Erythréenne, born in 1971, was held to Boulogne-Billancourt ( 92 ), for three months, to the place of residence deprived of the first secretary of an embassy of Near East. Deprived of identity and salary, the young slave "toiled" 18 hours a day and slept straight from the stone floor of the kitchen. Prevented by an association of take refuge Erythréens, the CCEM intervened at once to free her physically. The CCEM, with the mediation of the ambassador of the country known mentioned, obtained 30.000FF, for Mehret K., in repair of caused disadvantages. Since, Mehret obtained the status of political refugee.
Marie. The mediatization of the affair Mehret K. (to see this above) allowed the CCEM to be informed about a similar affair, in Marseille, concerning a young Filipino in situation of slavery at the consul of the same country of Near East as that of the affair Mehret. Marie had been recruited in the Philippines(Filipinos) by the governmental P.F.O.A agency (the employed Filipinos Overseas Association) without this one does not take any guarantee as for the conditions of employment which waited for the girl. Due to the personal intervention of the ambassador, the CCEM obtained a financial repair for Marie who decided to get back to its country and to abandon any pursuits. At the request of the CCEM, which agreed not to make public this affair(business), the ambassador threw(launched) a campaign of information with nationals of his community so that they respect the French legislation
Ahmed A. is Moroccan . For 3 years, he was exploited, held and was beaten by a fellow countryman, a butcher to Elboeuf ( the Maritime Seine) . The employer esclavagiste was indicted and imprisoned. Ahmed. A temporary resident's permit obtained one. Due to a partnership with the Community of the Companions d' Emmaüs, Ahmed. A found a refuge and resumes taste in the life.
S. is malian ( 22 years). She is only 12 years old when her uncle and his aunt come her in France to work as " small maid ". During six years, S. will be reduced to the most total slavery, accompanied with rape and with violence of an extreme revolved. Her executioners were indicted for " acts of torture accompanied with rape on minor premise " and imprisoned. Due to the intervention of the CCEM, S. obtained a temporary regularization and follows at present a paid training.
Antoinette, 29 years, is Togolese. During three years, Antoinette was a victim of a fellow countryman who reduced her to slavery. Working 15 at 18 o'clock a day, 7 days on seven, without payment anybody, Antoinette besides underwent multiple rapes and abortion forced by poisoning. A preliminary inquiry is current.
Rachida,, 13 years, is Beninese. During 7 months, this girl served of small maid in one fellow countryman who had made her come from Benin for that purpose. Further to a violent altercation with her cruel mother, Rachida ran away at a neighbour's who alerted the CCEM. A complaint with institution of civil action proceedings was put down in front of the Parquet(public prosecutor's department) of Versailles. Rachida is today taken care by Social security in the Childhood ( A.S.E).
Sarah L., 24 years, is Beninese. Arrived in France at the age of 15 years, Sarah was a victim of a traffic of small minor African maids towards France. Her ast employer reduced her to slavery during several years, violated and forced her to fail(have a miscarriage). A preliminary inquiry is current .
