Costa Rica - World renowned Puerto Rican pop singer Ricky Martin and Costa Rican President Oscar Arias Sánchez are today joining IOM, the Inter American Development Bank and UNICEF in San José for the launch of the counter trafficking information campaign "Llama y Vive" (Call and Live) and a telephone hotline.

The regional campaign and the telephone hotline, which will operate in all Central American countries, were designed to alert potential victims of trafficking, protect children and youth and provide information to the general public.

A message from Ricky Martin is at the centre of the campaign.  Television and radio public service announcements and posters and will bring his message during the next six months to all Central Americans.

IOM and its partners expect that the new hotline and the massive media attention will translate into increased awareness on the perils of human trafficking.  The hotline is operated by trained personnel 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Costa Rica is a country of origin, transit and destination for human trafficking.  The majority of the victims are forced into sexual servitude.  But media reports also confirm the existence of human trafficking for forced labour, as well as trafficking within the country's borders.  The country's youth are the most vulnerable to human trafficking.

Today's launch is part of the Global Agreement signed in May 2006 between IOM and the Ricky Martin Foundation.

In Costa Rica IOM will also work with el Patronato Nacional de la Infancia (PANI), la Línea 911 and the Fundación Ser y Crecer.

IOM has received the funding for this campaign from the US Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM).