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Beatrice Fernando, former human trafficking victim and memoirist, will speak at the University of Richmond about modern day slavery

September 11, 2009

Beatrice Fernando, a former human trafficking victim, will speak about her personal experience and analyze ways of eradicating trafficking as a global system of coercion, Sept. 23 at the University of Richmond.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place in Weinstein Hall, Brown-Alley Room, 7 p.m.

The talk is jointly sponsored by Women Involved in Living and Learning (WILL) and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS). Each year the groups sponsor a speaker series to discuss gender and diversity-related issues.

Born in Sri Lanka, Fernando was forced into slavery after answering an ad for employment as an overseas housemaid.

After escaping and recovering, she now speaks publicly, including testifying before the House Committee on International Relations, about her experience and the prevalence of slavery.

In 2004, Fernando published her memoir, “In Contempt of Fate,” outlining her experiences. She also has created the Nivasa Foundation, a group dedicated to breaking the cycle of slavery-based human rights violations.

For more information, call 804-289-8578.