Call and Live (Llama y Vive) provides a phone line to assist victims of human trafficking 1-809-200-7393

The InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), The Ricky Martin Foundation and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched today in the Dominican Republic an anti-trafficking campaign dubbed “Call and Live” that publicizes a phone line number to prevent, protect and provide assistance to victims of human trafficking. The Dominican Republic is the fifth country to join this unprecedented regional campaign.

The phone line 1-809-200-7393 administered by the Anti-Trafficking Department of the General Attorney’s Office of the Dominican Republic will provide  free and confidential service, thanks to a group of experts trained in prevention and prosecution. The campaign ads will publicize the phone line as well as the posters and public service announcements featuring the Puerto Rican artist and humanitarian, Ricky Martin. The campaign will also include special activities in the National District, Azua and Sanchez Ramirez provinces.

“The only way to combat this horrible crime is by working in alliances. For the foundation, it is always a privilege to join forces with the InterAmerican Development Bank and the International Organization for Migration to deter this modern form slavery”, said Ricky Martin in a message read at the event by Angel Saltos, Executive Director of the Ricky Martin Foundation.

Call and Live has been launched with success n Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and in the next few months a second phase will include Guatemala, Honduras y El Salvador. Currently, the campaign has generated more than 12.000 relevant phone calls to the national servers, fostered the investigation of more than 60 denunciations, and saved dozens of lives.

According to a recent IOM report, the Dominican Republic is mainly a country of origin for women who are being trafficked for sexual exploitation. Approximately, one third out of 60.000 Dominican women that are prostitutes in Europe are believed to have been victims of trafficking. Since 2004, human trafficking has been a crime punished by the Dominican Republic Government under the Law 137-03 with a maximum penalty of 20 years of confinement.