FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

8 March 2008

Soroptimist International Brisbane City Launches Human Trafficking Awareness Project

Soroptimist International Brisbane City (SIBC), a women's organisation helping to advance human rights and the status of women, launched an awareness project on Wednesday aimed at educating everyone to the reality of human trafficking within Australia.  To help create this awareness, SIBC co-incided the project with the DVD release date of "The Jammed", an Australian movie about the sinister workings of human trafficking, illegal prostitution and governmental deportation, which was inspired by actual events and court transcripts in Australia. SIBC is an authorised distributor of the film and proceeds from the sale of the DVD will support projects that assist survivors of human trafficking.

Michelle Jansen, Club President, said, "Human Trafficking is a global issue but many people are often incredulous when you tell them that it is actually happening here in Australia."

"Just yesterday, news stations reported that five people in Sydney have been arrested and are allegedly linked to a sex trafficking syndicate worth more than $3 million a year", she said.

It is not uncommon for women to be recruited from overseas under the belief that they will be provided with a visa and legitimate work. It is not until they arrive that they realise the true basis of their work and by then it is too late.  They are often faced with intimidation and threats to their family back home if they complain.

The Jammed is produced by Dee McLachlan and “traces the story of three women brought to Australia under false pretences for sexual exploitation. The Jammed reveals not only the horror of modern human trafficking and slavery but also peels back the complex moral layers involved for everyone, including governments.”

In 1999, in the second reading speech for the Criminal Code Amendment (Slavery and Sexual Servitude) Bill 1999, Senator Ian Macdonald remarked that, “The reports that I have received pain an ugly picture. Once in Australia, recruits are placed under heavy security and generally work seven days a week, 12 hours a day. Many are not free to reject a client or unsafe practices and live under constant fear of contracting HIV and other diseases.”

Today, International Women's Day, Soroptimist International President Margaret Lobo said, "Let our focus be to STOP Violence Against Women and STOP Trafficking of Women."

The club was able to promote the DVD at the UNIFEM 19th International Women's Day Breakfast on Thursday and will also be doing the same at the Soroptimist International South Queensland Region Changeover and Best Practice Awards Sunday 9 March.

The DVD can be purchased directly from SIBC for $35.00 including postage/handling by filling out an order form available from their website  at http://www.sibrisbanecity.org.au or contacting Chris Knight, Treasurer, chris at sibrisbanecity.org.au. 

END OF RELEASE