Reader's Digest Reflection

May 2008 issue
Searching For Marita

This article is about Susana Trimarco of Argentina, a 48-year-old grandmother set out to find her missing daughter, Marita, 23-year-old. After little help from the police, Susana and her husband decided to search for their missing daughter. She heard from others some information that her daughter may be caught and force to be prostitutes. Hence, to find her daughter, Susana had gone to brothel looking for her daughter. However, they met a lot of problems during the finding such as quiting her job, selling her house and cars. Her single-minded obsession in seraching for her daughter has results in separating with her husband. Even with some much stress and problems faced, Susana did not give. She continues to search for her missing daughter. While searching for her missing daughter, she discovered a shadowy world of human trafficking and forced prostitution.

Susana's search started receiving media coverage. Feeling the pressure of publicity, the police stepped up raids on bars and brothels. With the bar owners and traffickers feeling the heat, a campaign of intimidation began against Susana. Some prostitutes who had escaped went to tell Susana their life as being forced to be prostitutes and clues of Marita. She also take care and help them. Growing media converage of Susana's efforts began forcing Argentine society to confront the long-ignored issue of sex trafficking and the official corruption that facilitated it. Mothers whose daughters had been kidnapped were calling Susana instead of the police. She also received an International Women of Courage Award and had help many victims to regain their freedom. Her name had been an icon in the fight against human trafficking.

In my opinion, i think that Susana is very brave that she gave up so many things just to find her daughter. Other than that, she is also very helpful that she help other victims while searching for her daughter. Furthermore, she also gain the trust of other victims' families and had been supported by some government. She wanted to help out other victims and not only her daughter. I really supported her to continue finding her daughter and helping other victims although i think that she is a bit too reckless that she gone to brothels. As i think it is very dangerous but i admired her strong will to find her daughter. I think that all mothers should also be as worried as her when their daughter is in danger. This make me think that we should really care and try not to worry our parents. I really hope that she could find her daughter soon and human trafficking will not happened again.