"Intersection," an anime film produced by MTV EXIT's (End Exploitation and Trafficking) hopes to raise awareness about human trafficking by spreading its message through schools and nongovernmental agencies. The film, which depicts a brothel owner, a trafficker and the victim, is played by five famous people, including Chinese actress Yuan Quan and Taiwanese singing and acting veteran Alec Su. “Intersection” has been described as both humorous and darkly depressing, and is designed to put its message across young people who can relate to it. Similarly, the United Nations (UN) has released a second series of videos to raise global awareness about human trafficking by warning potential victims that contracts for work abroad are often modern-day slavery. Because trafficking is one of the fastest growing areas of organized crime, “the UN hopes to alert the public and the criminal justice system in destination countries of the crime (BBC News, 2002).” The UN estimates that more than 700,000 people are smuggled from their home countries each year.
Women from south-east Asia pay about £20,000 to go to the United Kingdom to join the sex trade (probably unknowingly). They work for about 15 hours a day for six months to pay off the debt and get their passport back; however, the traffickers hit them with a bill for expenses they had supposedly run up –and they cycle continues.
Some European countries, such as Sweden, have created stiffer sentences for human trafficking for sexual purposes by up to ten years in prison. “Britain says it intends to increase the maximum penalty from ten to fourteen years (BBC News, 2002).”
The first video, produced by the UN on sexual slavery, was released in January 2001 and has been shown in 35 countries. The two recent videos, made by the UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP), are no more than 60 seconds long and have been produced in nine languages. Creating short films to raise awareness is a different approach that just might work! Many young people do not read news articles relating to human trafficking or they do not have access. But if schools and organizations show these kinds of films, they will be more cautious when approached by a stranger offering them a job. “Intersection” has also been aired on China’s Music Television (MTV), and I am sure many young teens watch this channel. I believe the United States should also air short films about human trafficking on MTV and various channels.
China’s “Intersection”
http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE55A7DW20090611
BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1829855.stm
Pictures:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1829855.stm
Yuan Quan http://images.china.cn/images1/200711/413451.jpg
Alec Su http://blog.alecsatin.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/alec-su.jpg
Finally, something is getting done. I think this could work. If students or young men and women in general see these kinds of films on television, it could have a positive affect, especially in the awareness department. I must admit, I didn't know much about human trafficking until I read your blogs.
ReplyDeleteThat is great they are trying to raise awareness about human trafficking. Education seems to be the key to solving many problems. If the way traffickers work becomes common knowledge then they will not be able to use lies of jobs to get the girls to come with them.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a good idea to make these types of movies and show them to younger audiences who are more likely to be victims of this crime. Also, the fact that MTV is backing this is terrific since this channel is watched by many young adults.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think self-awareness and media attention is the avenue to stop human trafficking. The more that this is kept in the forefront, there is a stronger possibility to end it.
ReplyDeleteplease also have a look at http://sensiblochamaeleon.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/ to clarify why the efforts made in combating human trafficking are not sufficient enough compared to the bad situation of the many enslaved victims. the networking of the organisations struggling to end trafficking http://sensiblochamaeleon.blogspot.com/2011/08/end-modern-slavery-now-stop-human.html should be improved.
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