IOM, together with local counter-trafficking partners the Dutch Coordination Centre for Human Trafficking (CoMensha), Fairfood International and Bonded Labour in the Netherlands (BLInN), will showcase IOM's "Buy Responsibly" campaign targeting the demand side of human trafficking for labour exploitation on 14 December in The Hague.

Developed by IOM with an in-kind contribution of creative expertise from Saatchi & Saatchi Switzerland, "Buy Responsibly" urges consumers to discover the links between everyday products they buy and human trafficking by asking "What's behind the things we buy?"

At the same time, the campaign seeks to engage the private sector in adopting ethical standards and good practices in supply chain management to ensure the protection of migrant workers.

Related Links
	"Buy Responsibly" Facebook page
	"Buy Responsibly" campaign website

"Traditionally, efforts to prevent trafficking have been directed at source countries from where potential victims of trafficking come. However, little has been done to tackle the problem from the other side, in destination countries, where the demand for cheap goods creates the market for trafficked labour. This imbalance has to be addressed if we are to really make a dent in countering this growing tide of human trafficking,'' notes Jonathan Martens, Senior Specialist, IOM's Migrant Assistance Division.

"Buy Responsibly", first launched as part of the 2009 EU Anti-Trafficking Day in Brussels and featuring a gigantic upside down shopping trolley with human mannequins posing as exploited labourers trapped inside, has since expanded to include awareness raising events held across Europe.

The campaign uses social media such as Facebook and a dedicated website to engage consumers in the fight against human trafficking for labour exploitation in developed countries where exploitation often occurs. These tools have helped to create widespread interest in the campaign among individual consumers, organizations and private businesses.

The campaign will be launched in the Netherlands as IOM marks its 20th anniversary in the country with a range of activities including a symposium on migration at which IOM Director General William Lacy Swing will make a speech.

Following The Hague launch event, the "Buy Responsibly" exhibit will be put on display in Warsaw's city centre between 18-22 December in collaboration with the Municipality and the Ministry of Interior and Administration. Warsaw Mayor, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz and former First Lady, Jolanta Kwa?niewska, will participate in opening ceremonies on 18 December with MTV Poland and TVN Warszawa helping to get the campaign message out to Polish consumers.

The campaign will then head to London where it will be launched in April 2011.

Visit the "Buy Responsibly" Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Buy-Responsibly/158983080805986 and share the message.

See "Buy Responsibly" online at: http://www.buyresponsibly.org/.

For more information contact:

Susanne Schultz
Tel: +41 22 717 9860
E-mail: sschultz@iom.int

or

Francesca Vitucci
Tel: +41 22 717 862
E-mail: fvitucci@iom.int