Media Coverage

The media play an important role in the fight against human trafficking. Journalists and broadcasters can highlight the extent and complexity of the problem, help change public perceptions about trafficking and victims of trafficking, and inform the public on how to identify victims of trafficking and what they can do to help. It can also convey the message to victims that they are not alone, and that help is available by providing them with contact details of service providers.

		IOM offices in the region are regularly invited to speak as guests on radio and television interviews and discussion panels on the topic of human trafficking, and are also regularly interviewed by the press. Media coverage has also become a valuable tool in IOM SACTAP’s awareness raising efforts. Following are some of our media highlights.
		Jonathan Martens appears in an article in The Nation - Malawi

Special Assignment Special Assignment is one of South Africa’s leading investigative journalism programmes.
IOM has been featured in three Special Assignment episodes which focused on human trafficking; Sold Sisters, Traffic Report, and Sex and Lies on Video Tape, with interviews by IOM's Counter-Trafficking expert, Jonathan Martens. Sold Sisters and Traffic Report are both used by IOM in their training sessions with law enforcement.


		Carte Blanche Caught in Traffic - on January 28, 2007 investigative journalism programme, Carte Blanche, broadcasted a story on the trafficking of children from Mozambique to South Africa. The episode featured an interview with IOM's Jonathan Martens who provided expertise on human trafficking and points out the need for legistation in South Africa.

Human Trafficking Week

Organised by Diasporafric together with IOM, South Africa’s first ever Human Trafficking Week – themed BLOW THE WHISTLE – aimed to raise awareness of the growing threat of human trafficking and encourage members of the public to report suspected cases through the IOM’s national toll-free helpline number: 0800 555 999.

The Week began with an awareness raising soccer match between the Kaizer Chiefs and Bloemfontein Celtics in Bloemfontein. The fans were given orange anti-trafficking bracelets to wear, and team members sported anti-trafficking t-shirts emblazoned with IOM’s human trafficking help line number.

The week also featured extensive media coverage on radio, television and in the press. IOM was interviewed on some of South Africa’s popular radio stations, including, Metro FM, SAFM, Highveld Stereo and KFM, and on national television programmes including Morning Live, 180 Degrees, African Perspectives and African Views. Articles were also featured in many of South Africa’s major newspapers.

Agenda

		Agenda is a feminist media project in Africa that is committed to giving women a forum, a voice and skills to articulate their needs and interests towards transforming unequal gender relations. The organization produces a quarterly journal which provides readers and researchers with a fresh, challenging, stimulating and thought-provoking read. IOM was invited to contribute articles and information to the journal’s December 2006 issue, which focused on human trafficking and how it impacts on the lives of women and girls. A member of SACTAP's victim assistance team was also a key speaker at the journal’s launch.