Anime Enlisted to Help Combat Human Trafficking
Joint MTV and USAID Project enters New Phase
Mar 16, 2009
MTV´s new anime video is called “Intersection”, and will feature the voices of Asian actor Ananda Everingham and MTV VJ Taya Rogers. The soundtrack was specifically prepared for the video and was donated by the band Radiohead. It will initially be broadcast on MTV Asia on March 20, 2009. The video aims to present the perspectives of five individuals who are part of the human trafficking chain: the victim, the trafficker, the brothel owner, the client, and an undercover police officer.
When asked about the new video, Ananda Everingham told AFP that: “I am proud to be a part of this project that will educate young men and women in Singapore and all over Asia on this important issue…I hope the animation will stir meaningful conversations about how we can fight against this tragic form of modern-day slavery”. Jean-Michel Dumont, chairman of Ruder Finn Asia (a partner in the project), told Media that: “We believe our industry has an important part to play by talking about the issues so more people, especially potential victims, are aware of the dangers”.
Human Trafficking and MTV
Human trafficking is the second largest international criminal activity after drug trafficking, and is estimated to gross over $10 billion a year worldwide. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has identified human trafficking as one of the greatest threats to the developing world. Of the regions being monitored, Asia has been identified as the world leader in human trafficking.
In 2008 USAID designed and funded a new awareness campaign focused on Asia in cooperation with MTV. The project is called MTV Exit and depends greatly on contributions in talent from some of the finest artists from around the world. Videos and music downloads related to this project can be found on MTV Exit´s official website without copyright restrictions.
Broader International Concern
MTV Exit is partly the result of a greater international campaign to end human trafficking in Asia. For example, in the year 2000, participants in the Asian Regional Initiative Against Trafficking (ARIAT) met and agreed to promote cooperation and a partnership between their governments, NGOs, international organizations, private sector actors, and civil society organizations for prevention, the protection of victims and their reintegration into society; as well as the prosecution of criminals for human trafficking.
Most observers are gravely concerned that such a crude criminal activity still exists. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon recently described the problem in simple and concrete terms when he said: “It is up to each and every one of us to raise our voice against crimes that deprive countless victims of their liberty, dignity and human rights. We have to work together to realize the equal rights promised to all by the United Nations Charter. And we must collectively give meaning to the words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that no one shall be held in slavery or servitude”.
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