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Direct action versus awareness raising: why it is not a zero-sum game Direct action versus awareness raising: why it is not a zero-sum game
(14 days later)
In a recent piece by Michael Brosowski from the Blue Dragon Foundation, tells the story of Ngoc, a young boy from central to southern Vietnam trafficked to sell flowers on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Organisations, like Blue Dragon, who help children like Ngoc, should be commended for not only identifying him as a victim of human trafficking, but also for doing something about it.In a recent piece by Michael Brosowski from the Blue Dragon Foundation, tells the story of Ngoc, a young boy from central to southern Vietnam trafficked to sell flowers on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Organisations, like Blue Dragon, who help children like Ngoc, should be commended for not only identifying him as a victim of human trafficking, but also for doing something about it.
Michael also argued that anti-trafficking NGOs have become too focused on campaign messages and media sound bites rather than taking direct action to rescue victims.Michael also argued that anti-trafficking NGOs have become too focused on campaign messages and media sound bites rather than taking direct action to rescue victims.
No one denies that more resources need to be invested in direct victim rescue and reintegration. Likewise, more resources also need to go towards addressing the issues that make men, women and children vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation to begin with, such as a lack of employment opportunities, food security, access to education, access to labour rights and understanding of safe migration. Additional resources should also be put towards strengthening and implementing the rule of law.No one denies that more resources need to be invested in direct victim rescue and reintegration. Likewise, more resources also need to go towards addressing the issues that make men, women and children vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation to begin with, such as a lack of employment opportunities, food security, access to education, access to labour rights and understanding of safe migration. Additional resources should also be put towards strengthening and implementing the rule of law.
The hard truth is that if people are not aware that human trafficking and exploitation is happening then the services necessary to address the issue will never be prioritised. Campaigns based on in-depth research are able to raise awareness about the issue and provide individuals with direct actions they can take to make a difference. It is the role of awareness campaigns to inspire people to care both at the personal level and at the societal level.The hard truth is that if people are not aware that human trafficking and exploitation is happening then the services necessary to address the issue will never be prioritised. Campaigns based on in-depth research are able to raise awareness about the issue and provide individuals with direct actions they can take to make a difference. It is the role of awareness campaigns to inspire people to care both at the personal level and at the societal level.
MTV Exit has seen artists moved to give donations and continue to support community-based organisations when they learn about their positive efforts to provide services to those directly affected by trafficking.MTV Exit has seen artists moved to give donations and continue to support community-based organisations when they learn about their positive efforts to provide services to those directly affected by trafficking.
Still, the benefits of anti-trafficking awareness campaigns are not limited to the potential impact they have on increasing knowledge and inspiring positive behavioural change among people at risk of being trafficked (especially young people). Public awareness campaigns are also instrumental in building public support for counter-human trafficking efforts. Effective awareness campaigns engage with all sectors of society and influential individuals in order to strengthen and maximise their reach.Still, the benefits of anti-trafficking awareness campaigns are not limited to the potential impact they have on increasing knowledge and inspiring positive behavioural change among people at risk of being trafficked (especially young people). Public awareness campaigns are also instrumental in building public support for counter-human trafficking efforts. Effective awareness campaigns engage with all sectors of society and influential individuals in order to strengthen and maximise their reach.
Awareness campaigns, like those run by MTV Exit, work with celebrities to reach young people in Asia Pacific – to a demographic of around 700 million – with key information about human trafficking. For example, when Canadian rock band Simple Plan travelled around Vietnam to learn about human trafficking, they shared what they learned with their 10 million Facebook fans and Twitter followers, and produced a TV special about their journey. All of these helped to widen the awareness of the issue among new audiences.Awareness campaigns, like those run by MTV Exit, work with celebrities to reach young people in Asia Pacific – to a demographic of around 700 million – with key information about human trafficking. For example, when Canadian rock band Simple Plan travelled around Vietnam to learn about human trafficking, they shared what they learned with their 10 million Facebook fans and Twitter followers, and produced a TV special about their journey. All of these helped to widen the awareness of the issue among new audiences.
In addition to celebrities, successful awareness raising campaigns often include government participation to better ensure the relevance of the content, increase legitimacy and to better sustain impact. Importantly, government representatives who publicly commit to increased or improved efforts to combat human trafficking are then accountable to the public and civil society to follow through with those promises.In addition to celebrities, successful awareness raising campaigns often include government participation to better ensure the relevance of the content, increase legitimacy and to better sustain impact. Importantly, government representatives who publicly commit to increased or improved efforts to combat human trafficking are then accountable to the public and civil society to follow through with those promises.
MTV Exit involves civil society organisations, trafficking survivors and youth leaders across the Asia Pacific region to inform campaign design and to run their own community-based informational activities with high-quality, entertaining, educational materials.MTV Exit involves civil society organisations, trafficking survivors and youth leaders across the Asia Pacific region to inform campaign design and to run their own community-based informational activities with high-quality, entertaining, educational materials.
In 2011, a 20-year-old Cambodian man and three friends were forced to work for five years on a Thai fishing boat. When the boat docked briefly, he happened to catch sight of television airing a documentary about trafficking. The video flashed a free hotline number in Thailand that the man could easily read. When he called the hotline, he was connected with agencies that helped him and the others escape their traffickers and be safely repatriated back to Cambodia. This demonstrates the value that awareness raising activities can have with regard to increasing victim identification: not only members of the public recognising and reporting suspected cases of exploitation, but also enabling victims to self-identify and take action.In 2011, a 20-year-old Cambodian man and three friends were forced to work for five years on a Thai fishing boat. When the boat docked briefly, he happened to catch sight of television airing a documentary about trafficking. The video flashed a free hotline number in Thailand that the man could easily read. When he called the hotline, he was connected with agencies that helped him and the others escape their traffickers and be safely repatriated back to Cambodia. This demonstrates the value that awareness raising activities can have with regard to increasing victim identification: not only members of the public recognising and reporting suspected cases of exploitation, but also enabling victims to self-identify and take action.
Micheal's story of rescuing Ngoc from trafficking in Vietnam highlights the importance of direct action. What this story of the Cambodian fishermen highlights is the importance of prevention organisations such as MTV Exit, who raise awareness and promote positive behavioural change. Our work complements the work of protection organisations like Blue Dragon, who support rescue and reintegration efforts.Micheal's story of rescuing Ngoc from trafficking in Vietnam highlights the importance of direct action. What this story of the Cambodian fishermen highlights is the importance of prevention organisations such as MTV Exit, who raise awareness and promote positive behavioural change. Our work complements the work of protection organisations like Blue Dragon, who support rescue and reintegration efforts.
Without these collaborative counter-trafficking awareness-raising activities, the fight against human trafficking will continue to be an uphill battle. It is not a case of awareness raising versus direct action when it comes to tackling human trafficking. What the sector needs to focus on is what both prevention and protection organisations can bring to the table. It takes all sectors of society to contribute what they can to end human trafficking and exploitation.Without these collaborative counter-trafficking awareness-raising activities, the fight against human trafficking will continue to be an uphill battle. It is not a case of awareness raising versus direct action when it comes to tackling human trafficking. What the sector needs to focus on is what both prevention and protection organisations can bring to the table. It takes all sectors of society to contribute what they can to end human trafficking and exploitation.
Tara Dermott is head of development at MTV Exit, a multimedia initiative to end human trafficking and modern slavery. Follow @mtvexit on Twitter. Tara Dermott is head of development at MTV Exit, a multimedia initiative to end human trafficking and modern slavery. Follow @mtvexit on Twitter.
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