Thailand - Pedestrian traffic came to a standstill today in Bangkok’s busiest shopping district as crowds thronged to watch the premiere of Prisana: An IOM X Drama, a gripping love story set against the devastating underworld of human trafficking in Asia Pacific’s fishing industry.

“Young people will be drawn to Prisana because it’s a powerful love story with their favourite actors, set to an amazing soundtrack. Our hope is that this story will increase understanding of how human trafficking affects families across the region, ultimately inspiring young people to share what they have learned with others to prevent exploitation and human trafficking in our communities,” said Tara Dermott, Program Leader, IOM X.

IOM X’s Prisana packs some serious star power, with Ananda Everingham at the helm as producer and actors Mario Maurer and Mai Davika Hoorne as the lead characters. This is the couple’s first on-screen reunion since Pee Mak, Thailand’s highest grossing film.

In Prisana, Mario Maurer plays a photographer who finds himself helping a migrant woman look for her husband, who is a victim of human trafficking in the fishing industry. Mario’s work takes him away from his girlfriend, Mai Davika Hoorne, causing tension in their relationship. Mario is torn between his love for Mai and passion for his work; he believes he must fight for those who don’t have a voice. In an effort to understand Mario’s absence, Mai embarks on a learning journey, and soon discovers the inherent heroism in his fight against human trafficking in the fishing industry.

"Ending the global scourge of human trafficking is one of our highest priorities," said W. Patrick Murphy, U.S. Embassy Chargé d'affaires. "We are working with partners across the Asia-Pacific region to tackle the problem from multiple angles. IOM X's Prisana is a powerful example of how mass communication campaigns can contribute to increasing understanding of the issue and build a movement starting at the community level for more effective and localized counter-trafficking efforts."

Fishing is one of the biggest industries in the ASEAN region, and working conditions on fishing boats are often extremely difficult. According to findings from a recent IOM and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine survey, trafficked fishermen spend an average of 1.5 years trapped, more than trafficked people in any other sector. In the worst cases, fishermen face 18-20 hour workdays, live in cramped quarters, face drinking water and food shortages, and are required to work even when they are fatigued or ill. Boat owners sometimes prevent fishermen from leaving through threats of financial penalty and physical violence. Many of these fishermen are never paid. Prisana is a fictional depiction of the worst form of this.

Prisana was produced with the support of the Royal Thai Government. IOM is pleased to have TQPR, Channel 7, Baidu, Thai Rath TV, EmDistrict, True Plookpanya, Skynet TV (Myanmar), CTN (Cambodia), SpokeDark, Amarin TV, MTV Philippines, MTV Thailand and Love Frankie as official launch and distribution partners for Prisana.

IOM X is the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) new campaign to prevent human trafficking and exploitation. It is produced in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). All IOM X programs are available free of charge to broadcasters, organizations and individuals who would like to use the materials for educational purposes.

The 12-minute Prisana: An IOM X Drama is now viewable at IOMX.org/FISH. Supporters of the video are asked to hashtag their social media posts with #ICAREDOYOU.

For further information please contact, Mia Barrett, IOM X, Tel: ++66 84 705 2114, Email: mbarrett@iom.int