“I’m proud to join this campaign,” said Kai, noting that “young people’s desire to improve their lives can make them susceptible to traffickers. I hope this documentary and the MTV EXIT campaign give them information to stay safe as well as encourage others to join the fight to end trafficking.”
Kai spoke at the film’s premiere at the Lao National Culture Hall where she later was slated to perform with Overdance and other bands for an expected 1,400 guests.
Speaking in Lao at the film’s launch, Ambassador Huso said, “This film is meant to educate and warn potential victims of trafficking dangers. I hope this film will save many people in Laos from suffering from trafficking.”
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), MTV Networks and the MTV Europe Foundation united for this project to reach 300 million households in Asia. USAID and MTV have been joined by Kai of Laos, Hollywood film star Lucy Liu, Bollywood film star Lara Dutta and numerous pop stars, including Tata Young of Thailand and Rain of South Korea. They narrate a pair of half-hour documentaries that are being broadcast in their native languages throughout Asia. The films are part of a larger campaign that includes a website in 27 languages (www.mtvexit.org) and MTV on-the-ground events to alert people about the dangers of trafficking and to bolster NGO anti-trafficking activities.
Trafficking is a growing problem in Laos, driven by both cross-border and internal migration as people leave villages looking for a better life.
Lao Star Channel is broadcasting “Traffic” to raise awareness about human trafficking and to help prevent this crime, said Sulaphet Keoviengkham, General Manager of Lao Star Channel. “This campaign can provide helpful information to protect young Laotians from trafficking as well as explain how we can fight to end it all,” Sulaphet said. “Traffic” is the first program ever produced by MTV for Laos.
[Ambassador Speech in Lao and English]
Ambassador
