Award-winning Russian pop star Valeriya is today being nominated as
a goodwill envoy for IOM in the Russian Federation. The singer will
accept her nomination at a ceremony at IOM headquarters hosted by
IOM Director General, Brunson McKinley.

Valeriya will also be presented a medal award in recognition of
her already fruitful collaboration with IOM on counter-trafficking
issues in Russia which began a year ago. The singer, the first
Russian celebrity to become engaged in such an issue, participated
in an IOM information campaign against human trafficking and has
used the sale of her CDs as a vehicle for disseminating
anti-trafficking messages.

At the invitation of IOM, she also took part in an international
conference on human trafficking in Austria early in the year
alongside another IOM collaborator, Ricky Martin, and actress Emma
Thompson, and has been keen to contribute further to IOM
anti-trafficking efforts.

"Because artists speak the universal language of emotions and
feelings, they are able to focus the attention of the general
public on crucial social issues, such as trafficking," says
Valeriya. "Music and entertainment are powerful tools to put an end
to indifference and generate positive changes worldwide. With
IOM’s support, I feel we can change public perceptions of
trafficking, stop human rights violations and save many human
lives."

"We are tremendously excited at having Valeriya become
IOM’s first goodwill envoy. The affection and admiration she
inspires among people in the Russian Federation and across the
Commonwealth of Independent States and her commitment to fighting
human trafficking in her country makes her an excellent advocate on
the issue," says Brunson McKinley.

"We wanted Valeriya for this role not only because of her
wide-ranging achievements as a singer, artist and successful woman,
but also for her strong character and her kindness as a mother
which has made her a role model for millions of Russian women
through the years. Her life story speaks for itself," says Enrico
Ponziani, IOM Chief of Mission in Moscow.

It is her own experience of physical violence of which she has
openly spoken that has made Valeriya particularly keen to work on
countering human trafficking, particularly of women.

Speaking to trafficking victims at an IOM rehabilitation centre
in Moscow, she told them that the future was in their hands, "and
that it is important to try and forget the pain and humiliation of
the past in order to go on living a normal life."

Her meeting with the victims led to an emotional appeal
highlighting the importance of assistance to people who experienced
suffering in the past.

A press conference by IOM and Valeriya is being held today at
1115 CET at the UN Palais in Geneva, Salle III. To access audio,
please go to the UN website, href="http://www.unog.ch/" target="_blank" title=
"">www.unog.ch.

For further information, please contact:

Jean Philippe Chauzy

IOM Geneva

Tel: + 41 22 717 93 61

Mobile: + 41 79 285 4366

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