Juliana Dogbadzi
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Juliana Dogbadzi has been working as a human rights defender to speak out against a custom, Trokosi, which began in her home country in Ghana. She was enslaved in a shrine at the age of seven and was forced to work for a priest under grueling conditions. This religious practice allows young girls to be taken without consent, to a cultural shrine to work off the debt of the committed crimes of their relatives for the rest of their lives. This custom gave Dogbadzi no access to food or clothing and she received no pay. Working for the priest she soon became what is known as a sex slave and was forced to perform sexual services for him. Along with Dogbadzi were many other young women who were held as captives in this shrine.
Dogbadzi was raped and beaten several times by the priest who gave them no medical attention. Her first encounter of rape was when she was twelve and was called to the priest’s room at night. She was taken care of by an elderly woman who was also a slave. Dogbadzi soon learned to take care of herself when she couldn't receive much help from the elder woman. The living conditions were hard to adjust to because of the little space in the mud house. It had no windows and no doors but the women adjusted because they knew that they would be there for the rest of their lives.
Early on she realized that she had to get away in order to be free and live her life they way she wanted. She escaped three times only being successful on her third try. In her first attempt she went back to her family who she hoped could take her in but they turned her away and sent her back to the shrine afraid that they would be cursed. She then escaped and found a man that took care of her but he took advantage and made her pregnant. When the priest found out he sent men to get her and she was beaten nearly to death.
She was eighteen years old when she tried a third time. She finally made her way to a non-profit organization who kept her safe and away from the priest. Although she was taught many different things and was happy to be away, she knew that the other women who were suffering would not gain the courage to escape and she knew she had to help them. Therefore she travels and advocates for her cause by informing people of the horrible damage the shrines bring to women who have to endure them. She also talks to the priests and lets them know how it feels to be a woman who had to go through this, hoping they will change their ways.
Dogbadzi was raped and beaten several times by the priest who gave them no medical attention. Her first encounter of rape was when she was twelve and was called to the priest’s room at night. She was taken care of by an elderly woman who was also a slave. Dogbadzi soon learned to take care of herself when she couldn't receive much help from the elder woman. The living conditions were hard to adjust to because of the little space in the mud house. It had no windows and no doors but the women adjusted because they knew that they would be there for the rest of their lives.
Early on she realized that she had to get away in order to be free and live her life they way she wanted. She escaped three times only being successful on her third try. In her first attempt she went back to her family who she hoped could take her in but they turned her away and sent her back to the shrine afraid that they would be cursed. She then escaped and found a man that took care of her but he took advantage and made her pregnant. When the priest found out he sent men to get her and she was beaten nearly to death.
She was eighteen years old when she tried a third time. She finally made her way to a non-profit organization who kept her safe and away from the priest. Although she was taught many different things and was happy to be away, she knew that the other women who were suffering would not gain the courage to escape and she knew she had to help them. Therefore she travels and advocates for her cause by informing people of the horrible damage the shrines bring to women who have to endure them. She also talks to the priests and lets them know how it feels to be a woman who had to go through this, hoping they will change their ways.