NEW YORK, Nov. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nineteen-time
Latin Grammy winners Calle 13 joined forces with UNICEF, MTV Latin
America and Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas today to launch the MTV EXIT
(End Exploitation and Trafficking) campaign within Latin American
and US Hispanic communities. The multi-media campaign aims to reach
Spanish-speaking youth in Latin
America and the US to increase awareness and prevention
around human trafficking and exploitation through creative content,
digital media interaction, community events and opportunities for
direct participation. www.mtvexit.org/la
Lured by false promises offering opportunities for a better
life, at least 550,000* children, adolescents and youth have become
victims of trafficking in Latin
America and the Caribbean;
often forced into unsafe sexual practices and drug use, they are at
a heightened risk of contracting HIV.
"Youth is our future and we need to educate them not exploit
them," said Residente de Calle 13. "We are thrilled to be
supporting this campaign and look forward to working with MTV and
UNICEF to address other related issues like education," He
added.
"Increasingly adolescents and young people are vulnerable to
being trafficked and exploited in the region. We can reduce the
risks they are exposed to if we provide them with the necessary
education and tools to protect themselves," said UNICEF Regional
Director for Latin America and the
Caribbean, Bernt Aasen. "The partnership that launches
today with Calle 13, MTV Latin America and Tr3s -- key cultural
references for young people -- allows us to reach millions of
potential victims by communicating with them directly, using their
language."
Since 2004, MTV EXIT has produced award-winning media components
on the issue of human trafficking through influential music, film,
and celebrities, and distributed innovative and creative content in
over 40 languages to youth audiences, throughout Asia and Europe. Calle 13 joins a powerful list of
celebrities including Angelina
Jolie, The Killers, Radiohead, Muse, Jered Leto and Lucy
Lui, who have all produced innovative content to amplify MTV
EXIT's powerful message about modern day slavery. Residente and
Visitante host a documentary to address how this global issue is
affecting Latin America. The documentary will include
first-hand interviews with young Latin Americans who have been
affected by trafficking and exploitation. Calle 13 also donated the
rights of Preparame la Cena, a song from their most recent
award-winning album Entren los que Quieran, for the
music video for the campaign
"If we can use the power of our brands to promote human rights
and bring this issue of trafficking and exploitation to light in
the media, we will take an important step forward in raising
awareness and protecting youth," said Mario
Cader-Frech, Vice President, Public Affairs and Corporate
Social Responsibility for MTV Latin America & Tr3s.
UNICEF is actively working to prevent trafficking and
exploitation in Latin America and
the Caribbean, mainly with support
from the Italian Government. Protecting children begins with
prevention. UNICEF and its partners address the root causes of
trafficking, essential in the fight against this global crime.
The MTV EXIT campaign will continue to expand in Latin America through mass media broadcasts,
local events and activities with children, adolescents and youth.
Other partners, such as PADF (Pan American Development Foundation)
and the IDB (Interamerican Development Bank) will join the
initiative in upcoming projects.
*Source: "Every Child Counts New Global Estimates on Child
Labour,": IPEC—SIMPOC.2002:27.
For more information, please visit: www.mtvexit.org/la
Follow us on: Facebook -- MTVExitla and Twitter
@MTVExitla
Viacom International Media Networks The Americas,
a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), owns and operates the
company's portfolio of entertainment brands which include MTV,
Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, VH1, and their respective properties
in Spanish speaking Latin America
as well as Viacom Networks Brazil. Additionally, the portfolio
includes Tr3s: MTV, Musica0020y Mas in the US, which targets a
broad US Hispanic audience, and MTV Networks International's
programming partnerships in Canada
with Corus Entertainment for Nickelodeon and CTV Globe Media for
MTV, Comedy Central and Vh1. The company's emerging multiplatform
businesses include RED Viacom with 20 Music, Kids & Family,
Tweens, Gamers and Entertainment websites as well as the high
definition offer with MTV Live HD, NickelodeonHD and VH1HD
throughout Latin America. VIMN The
Americas also serves the growing number of digitally connected
consumers via its websites: mtvla.com, mundonick.com,
comedycentral.la, comedycentral.com.br, vh1la.com,
vh1brasil.com.br, tr3s.com, mtv.ca and nickcanada.com as
well as through its broadband and community sites:
mtvrevolution.com, mundonick.com/nickturbo, mtvmusica.com,
neopets.com and mtvdemo.com.
About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and
territories to help children survive and thrive, from early
childhood through adolescence. The world's largest provider
of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health
and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education
for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from
violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely
by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses,
foundations and governments. For more information about UNICEF and
its work visit: www.unicef.org.
SOURCE Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas