Psalm 82, "Unjust Gods" and its Application to Nigerian Survivors of Sex Trafficking in Europe

Master's Thesis from the year 2020 in the subject Theology - Practical Theology, grade: 2, London School of Theology, language: English, abstract: This Masters Dissertation addresses the context of Nigerian Sex Trafficking in Europe, the unique use of traditional spirituality to exploit victims, and the European Faith-Based NGO's which seek to assist such survivors. It argues that Psalm 82 has applicability to Nigerian survivors since the Divine Council scene of Psalm 82 depicts a royal intervention of God Most High to rescue those being mistreated and abused by unjust deities and their related human actors. Applying the Psalm includes using the unique way that Psalm 82 fits within the larger biblical meta-narrative in order to empower survivors. It also provides the outline for a ritual-judicial application of the Psalm in order to offer access to a spiritual experience of relief from unjust powers.

Over the last twenty years, the global recognition and response to the social justice crisis of human trafficking has continued to take shape, motivating the international community to confront criminals operating trafficking networks as well as provide social assistance and care for survivors of trafficking (SOTs). Within the various categories of human trafficking as defined by the UN, the exploitation of sexual labour is especially prevalent within the EU member states. This form of trafficking most often exploits women migrating into EU member states from other economically disadvantaged member states or from third countries. Trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation thus refers to cases in which women are forced or coerced into prostitution post-migration and some or all of their money is taken. A common method for sex trafficking is the establishment of debt-bondage. In these cases, money is not taken by force but is rather 'collected' as a debt.