K 11 Project Raises Awareness on Human Trafficking

The IOM Office in Ecuador is providing support to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in the presentation of the K11 Project next week in
Quito and Guayaquil.

Guy Jacobson, the founder and producer of Priority Films of New
York and creator of the K11 Project ( "paragraph-link-no-underline" href=
"http://www.priorityfilms.com/index3_28.html" target="_blank"
title="">http://www.priorityfilms.com/index3_28.html) will be
on hand to discuss with audiences his project, which consists of
one film and two documentaries telling true stories of child
prostitution from around the world.

During a visit to Cambodia in 2002, Jacobson, an American lawyer
and investor, was shocked by the number of children working in
prostitution. Jacobson decided to take action by calling the
world's attention to the issue of human trafficking, particularly
the sexual exploitation of minors.

Jacobson has travelled around the world to talk about his
experience, expose and incite debates on the issue of human
trafficking. In countries such as Mexico, the Netherlands, the
United States and Brazil, amongst others, his work has generated a
strong public reaction against this form of modern slavery.

The K11 Project includes the work of renowned producers and
directors, human rights activists, and international artists.
International organizations, UN agencies and NGOs also have taken
part the project's development.

The press, the diplomatic corps, international organizations,
NGO, government authorities, actors involved in Ecuador's National
Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking, academics, students of
the Diplomatic Academy and representatives from the private sector
have been invited to the events.

IOM-Ecuador is currently implementing a programme to combat
human trafficking with funding from USAID.

The programme aims to: a) strengthen the government's
Inter-institutional Commission and the Technical Secretariat for
the implementation of the National Plan to Combat Human
Trafficking; b) contribute to the prevention and the reporting of
human trafficking cases through the "Call and Live" Campaign; c)
identify and support prevention, protection, and prosecution
activities to complement other national initiatives, d) develop a
protocol for victim assistance; e) strengthen existing victim
assistance services; and f) develop mechanisms for transition and
follow-up to support the reintegration of victims.

For further information please contact:

Ana Maria Guzman

IOM Ecuador

Tel +593 2 244 49 26

E-mail: "mailto:aguzman@oim.org.ec">aguzman@oim.org.ec