The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ricky Martin Foundation (RMF) signed a global cooperation agreement aimed at raising awareness and combating the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children.
The global agreement will allow IOM and RMF to put in place joint projects to combat human trafficking all over the world, with special emphasis on children and minors.
The agreement was signed by IOM's Deputy Director General, Mrs. Ndioro Ndiaye and RMF President, Angel Saltos, and Ricky Martin as witness, a few hours prior to his concert in Madrid during his European tour.
IOM's Deputy Director General, Mrs. Ndioro Ndiaye and RMF President, Angel Saltos, signed the global cooperation agreement to combat child trafficking in Madrid. |
Praising the work of Ricky Martin and his Foundation Mrs. Ndiaye said, "We are proud to have Ricky Martin join IOM's decade-long fight to combat human trafficking. His voice will reach millions of young people around the world, and this is the best way to alert potential victims of this heinous crime."
IOM is currently implementing more than 150 counter trafficking projects around the globe that include awareness raising, medical and psychosocial support to the victims, as well as return and reintegration and training for law enforcement, NGO staff and other service providers.
“IOM counter trafficking programs will undoubtedly be strengthened with this new IOM/RMF partnership in social responsibility toward this most vulnerable population,” Ndiaye added.
"We are committed to ending child exploitation. Unfortunately, more than half of trafficking victims world-wide are children, forced into pornography, prostitution and labour servitude, among other forms of exploitation. Signing this agreement with IOM strengthens our mission. We are certain that this alliance we will create a global call to action," said Martin.
As an advocate of children’s rights, the international musician also thanked IOM for their commitment to explore possibilities to carry out a counter trafficking training seminar for law enforcement agencies and NGO staff in his birthplace Puerto Rico.
Ricky Martin, President - Founder, and IOM's Deputy Director General, Mrs. Ndioro Ndiaye, celebrate with a firm handshake the historic agreement to combat child trafficking around the world. |
The global agreement signed in Madrid builds on the work that IOM and RMF are carrying out in Colombia. The social impact of the ongoing counter trafficking information campaign "Don't Let Anyone Shatter Your Dreams" launched in March with a series of Public Service Announcements featuring Ricky Martin, has been outstanding. IOM and RMF have seen telephone calls to the hotline numbers increased by 500% in three past months.
Since 2004 when the RMF launched “People for Children”, their flagship project to combat child
trafficking, they have become a respected and influential voice in the global community denouncing the fact that some 1.2 million children fall victims of this crime each year.
● The Ricky Martin Foundation advocates for the well being of children around the globe in critical areas such as social justice, education and health.
● IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. Click on the URL to visit the OIM website: www.iom.int
