4 Anti-Trafficking Information Campaigns from Around the World
Word Day Against Trafficking in Persons
By: Toby Greenfield
While IOM recognizes the importance of Word Day against Trafficking in Persons, we know the fight against trafficking must happen every day. Our regional offices and country missions work throughout the year to raise awareness about what human trafficking is, the risks and precautionary measures that can be taken, in addition to the work they do with their partners to assist and empower victims of trafficking. Here are four campaigns from this past year that show just some of what IOM’s regional offices and missions have created.
DIMENSIONS³ (Ukraine)
IOM Ukraine opened a public installation DIMENSIONS³ to educate the public about the nature of trafficking in persons, safe travel and safe employment advice, and dedicated counter-trafficking hotlines. The campaign intended to motivate Ukrainian communities to join in the fight against human trafficking.

Has Someone Forced You to Do Things Against Your Will? (Bulgaria)
IOM Bulgaria launched an awareness-raising campaign titled, “Has someone forced you to do things against your will?” in an effort to inform migrants on the risks and protection measures associated with smuggling and human trafficking, and who they can contact if they need assistance. The campaign includes posters and brochures, and an animation film in 5 languages — Arabic, Kurdish, Dari, Pashto and English, and the main target group is migrants accommodated in open and closed reception centers.

InformArte en Movimiento (Central America and Mexico)
The Mesoamerican Regional Migration Program conducted workshops to teach young people with high risk of vulnerability how to create radio commercials on the risks and consequences of irregular migration, including human trafficking. So far, over 100 participants, between 11 and 20 years old, mostly youth leaders with some experience in organization and human rights advocacy in their communities, learned how to make radio spots from the script to broadcasting that can be used in local radio stations or cultural festivals. 32 audio clips are available to be shared among radio stations throughout the region.

SAFE (Slovakia)
IOM Slovakia created a new mobile application called SAFE, which points out the risks of human trafficking by means of interactive games and useful information. The application provides key information about human trafficking, how to recognize signs of trafficking and tips for safe migration and working abroad under the tagline, “Be prepared, spread the word, and recognize the signs.”

These projects highlight only some of the campaigns created by IOM teams around the world. Information campaigns and outreach projects complement IOM’s capacity building and direct assistance programs that have helped over 90,000 victims of trafficking over the past two decades. We are committed to educating people about trafficking in persons, helping those who have been victims and taking steps to end the practice once and for all.
For other campaigns, publications, videos and posts about IOM’s efforts to combat trafficking in persons, please check out our webpage.
Toby Greenfield is in charge of communications for the Migrants Assistance Division at IOM headquarters. For more information, please contact her at IOM HQ, Email: tgreenfield@iom.int
