IOM' s anti-trafficking public service announcement (PSA) won the
Best Overall Award at South Africa's 9th MultiChoice VUKA! Awards
this week.

The TV spot was the product of a fruitful collaboration between
IOM and international advertising firm, Saatchi and Saatchi.
Created pro bono by Lesley Anne Roe of Saatchi & Saatchi and
directed by Amy Alais of Fresh Eye Film Productions in
Johannesburg, the PSA also walked away with the best soundtrack
award. Both awards were won in the Professional Category.

Focusing on a girl in Zambia being lured into prostitution in
South Africa with the false promise of becoming a model, the PSA
encourages viewers to ‘see the truth' and to call IOM's
counter-trafficking helpline for South Africa – 0800 555
999.

"We were touched by the IOM's work and the difference it makes
to women who are trapped in appalling conditions," said Grant
Meldrum, Managing Director of Saatchi & Saatchi South Africa,
explaining why his company became involved in the project.

"This hard-hitting PSA captures the evil realities of human
trafficking and shows how ruthless traffickers shatter the hopes
and dreams of their victims," says Karen Blackman, Information
Specialist for IOM's Southern African Counter-Trafficking
Assistance Programme (SACTAP). "Human trafficking is happening in
Southern Africa today, but awareness levels remain worryingly
low."

The advert has so far been aired on South African channels SABC
1, SABC 2, SABC 3 and ETV in primetime slots, as well as DSTV,
which broadcasts throughout Southern Africa.

During the two weeks of its broadcast at the end of May 2007,
the advert resulted in increased calls to IOM's helpline.

As part of the reward for winning these awards, MultiChoice will
screen the PSA free of charge on a range of DSTV channels
throughout 2008.

MultiChoice is a premium television entertainment provider,
broadcasting 70 video, over 40 audio and 28 radio channels, and
more than 6 data channels, 24 hours a day on its DSTV
platform. 

Says Jacki Rikotla, Corporate Affairs General Manager of
Multichoice: "Every year we dare aspiring and professional
filmmakers and advertising creatives to put their skills and energy
into making an advert that counts for our society. And every year
without hesitation they meet and surpass that challenge."

To view the PSA, please go to: "paragraph-link-no-underline" href=
"http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/pid/748">http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/pid/748.

For more information, contact:

Nde Ndifonka

IOM Pretoria

Tel: +27 12 342 2789

E-mail: "mailto:nndifonka@iom.int">nndifonka@iom.int

Website: "http://www.iom.org.za">www.iom.org.za

or

Karen Forrest

Saatchi & Saatchi, Johannesburg

Tel +27 11 548 6000

E-mail:  "mailto:karen_forrest@jb.saatchi.co.za">karen_forrest@jb.saatchi.co.za

Website: "http://www.saatchi.com/">www.saatchi.com