IOM's Southern African Counter-Trafficking Assistance Programme
(SACTAP) has released a thrilling new drama to radio stations
throughout Mozambique to raise awareness of the dangers of
irregular migration and trafficking.

Produced by the Johannesburg-based Community Media for
Development (CMFD), the 13-part drama entitled "Troco" or "Change"
is inspired by the desire of many Mozambicans to emigrate to
improve their daily lives; a wish that often leaves them vulnerable
to human trafficking.

The drama, which is also currently aired in Zambia, follows a
family of women traders who are inadvertently caught up in a mafia
scandal and an underground human trafficking ring. Through their
experiences and those around them, listeners are encouraged to ask
questions on a range of issues related to trafficking and
migration.

As part of this initiative, a handbook for journalists and
community organizations will provide information to initiate
discussions about the characters and the issues they face. Radio
stations will be encouraged to have live phone-in and text message
discussions after each episode. The series will also have a blog in
both English and Portuguese

Last week, Mozambican President Armando Guebuza signed into law
three bills designed to criminalize human trafficking

"There is need to inform and educate people about the new
legislation and to train law enforcement and social service agents
who will be responsible for putting it into practice," says Nely
Chimedza, IOM Project Coordinator in Maputo. "This radio drama is
part of efforts to publicize the new legislation in a country
plagued by a culture of silence when it come to human
trafficking.

A Portuguese version of the drama is expected to reach listeners
in Portugal, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea, Sao Tomé and
Angola through Rádio Difusão Portuguesa (RDP)'s
African Portuguese language service.

Radio is considered the most popular source of entertainment and
information for rural communities, which are the most vulnerable to
human trafficking in Southern Africa.

Human trafficking is a growing issue in Mozambique. Since
January 2008, Mozambican authorities say they have rescued more
than 200 children who were being trafficked to South Africa.

IOM's SACTAP is funded by the Norwegian Embassy in South Africa
and the US Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees and
Migration (PRM)     

For more information please contact:

Nely Chimedza

IOM Maputo

Tel: +258 21 310 779

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

or

Karen Blackman

IOM Pretoria

Tel: + 27 12 342 27 89

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