Human sex trafficking captured through the lens of Auckland photographer
Nikki Denholm is haunted by the universal hollowness in eyes that have seen too much.
The Auckland photographer captures powerful images of young girls sold into sex slavery in countries ranging from Cambodia to Uganda.
“I’m there in what tiny way I can to tell their story, but when I come home the eyes stick,” Denholm said.
“The same sense of desolation and hopelessness you see in a lot of the girls’ eyes, no matter which country they’re from, is something that does stay with me.
“I might cry when they’re telling me their stories, but in terms of me processing the enormity of human trafficking and the injustice of it, that’s something I will pick up when I’m at home.”
Denholm, 53, has worked in more than 40 countries documenting the stories of people suffering through war, famine, persecution, and crisis.
The mother of three girls was inspired to focus on human sex trafficking six years ago after a symposium in India alerted her to the severity of the problem.
At the time, 16,000 girls each year were trafficked from Nepal across the border to India, she said.
The Mission Bay resident worked in a red-light district in Mumbai where an estimated 42,000 young girls were held captive in high-rise brothels across seven streets.
“I was quite shocked at how many young girls and women are sold into human sex trafficking and how poor the outcomes are for them in terms of ever being rescued,” Denholm said.
Today, it is estimated that between 28-30 million people across the world have been trafficked into some form of human slavery, with between four and a half million and five million sold into sex slavery, she said.
“Something happens at a different level when you see a photograph than when you just read four and a half million girls have been sex-trafficked. I think what a photograph does is it brings the issues into people’s hearts really.”
Human trafficking is the world’s fastest-growing criminal area, reaping an estimated NZ$230 billion profit a year, according to Tearfund.
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Poll: Does the building consent process need to change?
We definitely need homes that are fit to live in but there are often frustrations when it comes to getting consent to modify your own home.
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91.4% Yes
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Lest we forget...
On this ANZAC Day, let's take a moment to remember and honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.
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Original Art on Baseball Caps / Hats
Hello everyone,
I am presenting a limited release of hand-painted artwork on Baseball Caps. There will only be 29 caps in this range. For now, please do have a look at the first seven Caps attached. I will post more in the future as I work on them.
Price per piece = $55.00.
Fabric look/feel is suede-like (not real suede). It is a really nice quality cap. You can zoom out each photo to view better.
Adjustable backstrap with metal clasp.
NOTE: Some Caps have more than one photo to give you views from different sides (I can send you more photos if required).
Mother's Day is just two weeks away. This would make a really memorable yet practical gift for that special person. OR...get it for yourself! Just know that when you are wearing it to brunch, on your walks or at tennis/golf, YOU are the only person in the world with this original piece of wearable art ☺️.
Pickup in Remuera or happy to courier:
P&p $16.00 (with signature)
Rural addresses +$5.50.
If you want it sent overseas, I am happy to quote.
For the remaining Caps that I will be painting, if you have any suggestions that you would like to see, or if you would like to order a cap with a particular bird/flower et , I am happy to consider. No portraits please! That would be too hard on fabric 😅.
Have a lovely weekend,
Connie.
PS. I apologise for the low photo resolution as I had to resize them down to be able to post.
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