Rocking Against Human Slavery
Last year, Ukrainians walking down Khreschatyk in Kyiv could see posters of Slava Vakarchuk, front man for the popular rock group, Okean Elzy, addressing a burning social issue: the fight against human slavery. From the posters, he cautioned young people to get more information before traveling abroad so as not to fall prey to traffickers.
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| A flight attendant in the PSA warns: “Please be careful as you may in fact be walking into a trap where you will be forced into slavery and prostitution... You may be stripped of your passport and forced to work for long hours without pay” |
According to the National Survey on Trafficking Issues sponsored by USAID, 99% of respondents in Ukraine know about the problem, but only 15% believe that it could happen to them. The facts, however, show that no one is immune. Over the past five years, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Ukraine has provided assistance to 3,000 victims of trafficking, the vast majority of whom had never seriously thought that they might fall prey to traffickers until it happened to them.
Public information campaigns are a crucial component of efforts to counter human trafficking in Ukraine. In regions where there is little access to objective information about trafficking in human beings, such campaigns are extremely important.
To alert Ukrainians about this modern form of slavery, IOM has conducted three national awareness campaigns over the past two years with the support of USAID, Ukrainian counter-trafficking NGOs, the MTV Europe Foundation and other international organizations.
Okean Elzy was an integral part of last year’s awareness campaign. “Trafficking in persons is one of today’s most painful and serious problems,” explained Vakarchuk. “Okean Elzy decided to take responsibility to draw attention to this problem and help IOM prevent trafficking.”
Last fall, during Okean Elzy’s 30-city tour, some 100,000 concertgoers received information on how to protect themselves when going abroad to work, study or travel. Before each concert, IOM NGO partners explained to visitors what trafficking is, what the consequences are, and how not to fall prey to modern forms of slavery. During the concert, Vakharchuk spoke of the need to be more careful and ask more questions regarding the possible dangers and con sequences of going abroad.
The importance of role models such as Okean Elzy should not be underestimated for preventive and advocacy efforts. Through Okean Elzy’s active involvement we have the possibility of reaching out to risk groups, raising awareness and changing attitudes far more effectively,” said Fredric Larsson, IOM Counter-Trafficking Program Coordinator for Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus.
Okean Elzy’s Vakarchuk also endorsed a counter-trafficking public service announcement (PSA) that draws attention to the dangers faced by thousands of Ukrainians as they go looking for a better future abroad. In the PSA, no one pays attention to what a flight attendant is saying until they realize she is describing their future in slavery. “Thousands of Ukrainians are going abroad. Lots of them fall prey to lies and violence. Remember there are no easy ways in life. Protect yourself!“ urges Vakharchuk. At the end, the PSA provides a telephone hotline through which callers can receive practical advice on how to avoid becoming victims of human trafficking.
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