Juliana was enslaves at a shrine in Ghana under a custom known as Trokosi. Trokosi comes from an Ewe known as “slave of the gods”, most of the girls are virgins are sent to serve lifelong terms for crimes of their relatives committed by being some type of slave. Juliana was forced to work without pay, food, or clothing. She also had to perform sexual services for the “holy man” known as her slave owner. She was repeatedly raped by her owner and other hired men. Her attempts at escape were common. Thef irst several times, she went to her parents yet they suggested she return to the shrine out of fear that the gods would strike them down or withhold blessings from them. The second time she went to a nearby village and met this man that fed her but he also took advantage of her and got her pregnan. Whenthe priest found out he sent men to capture her once again. She was beaten near to death. The final time she escaped she assured she would not go back, she was three months pregnant from the priest and she was starving so she went to a farm owned by her master to get an ear of corn but the she realized if she stays and eats that corn she will be taken back to the shrine and beaten to death.
This was the turning point, she was about seventeen or eighteen when she decided she was going to help people at the shrine.
Juliana had a difficult time trying to go against Human Trafficking, but she never gave up on solving the issue. Through Juliana Dogbadzi’s daring escape and her subsequent efforts to denounce the system, Trokosi was banned in Ghana in 1999. Trokosi was a practice which they forced people to work without pay, food, and clothing and perform sexual services for the holy men. This practice is similar to modern day Human Trafficking. Law enforcement is still lax against tracking down people who still try to practice it. Dogbadzi continues to speak out against Trokosi. She travels the country, meeting with slaves,and trying to win their emancipation.
Although having been lucky to escape from the Trokosi shrine when she did, there’s no doubt that at times it’s a struggle to simply make it through the day with the pangs of the life she left behind. By no means though does she fear her former life. After exposing it for what it really was, a fetish shrine dedicated to the mistreatment and abuse of young women and children, she now can reflect and better see how she can rescue and aid others. Things thought to come naturally such as confidence, self worth and, affection, Juliana has had to develop and learn. Of her ability to live as a mother, wife, and humanist as well as being a productive citizen Juliana says “ The help that I have received...and my own confidence have made all the difference.” As can be imagined, Juliana has chosen to dedicate her life to the education and freeing of other young women and children entrapped in a life of trafficking. She is currently promoting a campaign to eradicate dangerous traditional practices and has begun legislation to outlaw these horrible practices all over the world. In her success she has helped more than one thousand slaves from over 15 different shrines to be free. When asked how she’d done it she stated “...I got over the fear instilled by the Trokosi system. This was my weapon. Now that I have escaped, I help diminish the women's fears by telling my story. I tell them what I am presently doing and that I am still alive.”Although still active today, because of the determination, hard work, and genuine concern for others, the Trokosi shrine and their practices were banned from Ghana in 1999.
This was the turning point, she was about seventeen or eighteen when she decided she was going to help people at the shrine.
Juliana had a difficult time trying to go against Human Trafficking, but she never gave up on solving the issue. Through Juliana Dogbadzi’s daring escape and her subsequent efforts to denounce the system, Trokosi was banned in Ghana in 1999. Trokosi was a practice which they forced people to work without pay, food, and clothing and perform sexual services for the holy men. This practice is similar to modern day Human Trafficking. Law enforcement is still lax against tracking down people who still try to practice it. Dogbadzi continues to speak out against Trokosi. She travels the country, meeting with slaves,and trying to win their emancipation.
Although having been lucky to escape from the Trokosi shrine when she did, there’s no doubt that at times it’s a struggle to simply make it through the day with the pangs of the life she left behind. By no means though does she fear her former life. After exposing it for what it really was, a fetish shrine dedicated to the mistreatment and abuse of young women and children, she now can reflect and better see how she can rescue and aid others. Things thought to come naturally such as confidence, self worth and, affection, Juliana has had to develop and learn. Of her ability to live as a mother, wife, and humanist as well as being a productive citizen Juliana says “ The help that I have received...and my own confidence have made all the difference.” As can be imagined, Juliana has chosen to dedicate her life to the education and freeing of other young women and children entrapped in a life of trafficking. She is currently promoting a campaign to eradicate dangerous traditional practices and has begun legislation to outlaw these horrible practices all over the world. In her success she has helped more than one thousand slaves from over 15 different shrines to be free. When asked how she’d done it she stated “...I got over the fear instilled by the Trokosi system. This was my weapon. Now that I have escaped, I help diminish the women's fears by telling my story. I tell them what I am presently doing and that I am still alive.”Although still active today, because of the determination, hard work, and genuine concern for others, the Trokosi shrine and their practices were banned from Ghana in 1999.