In December 1994, Angela's 13-year-old daughter was killed by a gang member in the Tivoli Gardens area of West Kingston, Jamaica, where Angela lived. She reported the killing to the police and gave them the name of the gang member who had pulled the trigger. Three weeks later, her 21-year-old son was also shot and killed after he publicly vowed that his sister's killer would go to prison. The same week, gang members threatened Angela as well, accusing her of informing to the police. In search of safety, Angela moved to other parts of the island in 1996 and 1997, but in each place, she was subjected to sexual abuse by men who threatened to expose her identity. During that time, her brother was shot by the same gang, as was her boyfriend's eldest daughter. Finally, in 1998, she fled to the United Kingdom and claimed asylum.

Alain Baptiste, a Haitian, noticed in 2003 that he had begun to lose weight and that he generally felt unwell. Concerned, he went to the doctor and tested positive for HIV. Despondent, Alain decided he could not remain in Haiti. He feared that he would be ostracized once others found out about his HIV-positive status – which they surely would, given his deteriorating health. He was also likely to lose his job. Even more importantly, he would have no access to adequate medical care. In short, staying in Haiti would be tantamount to a death sentence.