Sonya, Age 7, on what it will feel like to testify against her abuser in court:
“I will be both sad and happy. I will be sad because I will remember again what he did to me. I will be happy if I will know that he will be in prison and he will not be able to do what he did to me to other children.”
The road to recovery isn’t paved, it isn’t flat, and there isn’t a marked finished line. It is with great joy we share with you each month the steps forward made by children on this journey. But it is the story of what it takes to continue the journey each day that often goes untold —the struggle, sadness, and pain these children are overcoming to find hope.
Justice is an important aspect of healing among victims of human atrocities in order to move on towards recovery. Hence, justice is an important component of Love146’s care.
Right now, nine children — boys and girls — in our safe homes in the Philippines are in the process of testifying against their perpetrators.
Those involved in their trafficking include buyers and sellers, and in a few cases, these traffickers are even parents.
As much as we want to see each child receive the justice he or she deserves, we realize that this is one of the hardest tasks a survivor of exploitation can face.
As the court dates approach for each child, Love146 is working alongside other agencies, preparing them through counseling, enrolling in the Witness Protection Program, and even participating in a mock court where children can practice what it feels like to climb onto the witness stand.
We can’t wrap up this story with a promise of a happy ending. We can’t promise that in our next update we’ll be able to tell a story of justice served. What we can promise is that we will continue on this journey alongside these brave children — and that your support is surrounding each of them with strength and courage as they fight for justice.
