Thary

Thary is worth $200. With nine children to support and a sick husband, her mother sold her to a pimp in Phnom Penh.

On her first night in Phnom Penh, she was sold as a virgin to a man for $500. The pimp forced Thary to wear sexy lingerie and to apply make-up. Thary refused to have sexual intercourse, since no one ever explained to her what intercourse was. At that point, she had not had her period yet. That night, due to her defiance, her pimp beat her to unconsciousness. After a few days, Thary still refused to have sex with clients. Her pimp began torturing her with electric shocks and beatings until Thary finally submitted to her demands.

Thary's average night consisted of having sex with four to seven clients. Eventually, her pimp brought her to a hospital, where her hymen was sewn back, and the brothel could once again sell her as a virgin. After a month at this brothel, the pimp sold her to another brothel owner for $200. She was sold four more times to four different brothel owners, until a local NGO rescued her from the last brothel. Thary has tested HIV positive.

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