IOM Lisbon has launched two public service announcements (PSAs) in Portugal to mark the first annual European Day on Anti-Trafficking.

The TV spots, which were produced by students in broadcast journalism as part of a European Commission EQUAL funded counter-trafficking programme, are being shown on main public and private Portuguese channels (RTP, MTV Portugal, TV SIC and TVI).

The PSAs are also being featured on large outdoors and indoor screens in high visibility places such as petrol stations and shopping centres in Lisbon.  

One of the PSAs features a supermarket where women showing signs of physical violence are being sold like merchandise with customers in the background displaying different attitudes and feelings (indifference, disgust, shame, but also a willingness to help). The other PSA shows a black screen featuring the soundtrack of a telephone conversation between two men who appear to be carrying out a commercial transaction but in reality are trafficking in women.         

The awareness material is also featured in some 70 cinemas throughout the country and on the Project CAIM (Cooperation, Action, Research; World Vision) website http://www.caim.com.pt.

This project, which is managed by the Portuguese Commission for Gender Equality in which IOM Lisbon is an active partner, aims to create an institutional and NGO partnership to better fight human trafficking in Portugal.

The launch of the annual European Day on Anti-Trafficking is another important step in the European Commission's long-standing commitment on preventing and fighting trafficking in human beings. The Day aims at raising awareness about the phenomenon that is a gross violation of human rights.

The title of this year's event, "Trafficking in Human Beings: Time for Action", highlights the clear need for the implementation of stronger measures to prevent and combat trafficking and to protect victims of trafficking at the national, European and international level. 

For further information, please call:

Monica Goracci
IOM Lisbon
Tel +351 21 32 42 940
E-mail mgoracci@iom.int