Films on trafficking in persons at the Cinemateca

March 6, 2008 – Co-sponsored by the United Nations and the United States Embassy—through its Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS)—the film cycle “Trafficking in Persons: A Crime that Shames Us All” opens this Thursday at the Cinemateca.  The sponsors’ goal is to reach public opinion and show that trafficking in persons is a crime that occurs in all countries and societies, with no exceptions, and that we all should be part of the fight against it.
The films will be shown at the Cinemateca Boliviana from Thursday, March 6 to Sunday, March 9 at 06:30pm. Each film will be preceded by a short commentary and there will be a debate after the movies are shown. Through the victims’ stories, the public will be able to have a better grasp of the world of trafficking in persons and of the still insufficient efforts to protect its vulnerable victims.
Among the guests who will introduce the attendants to the debate are: the Bolivian Minister of Justice, Celima Torrico; the director of the U.S. Embassy’s Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) Joseph Manso; Congresswoman Elizabeth Salguero; United Nations’ representative Maria Andrea Echazú; ASDI’s representative, Ulla-Britta Hedvall; and Adolfo Cardenas, who will represent the Trafficking in Persons Unit of the Bolivian Police.
The cycle, where women are the main protagonists, consists of three films: Tráfico de Mujeres, a German-Mexican joint production; Human Trafficking, produced in the United States; and Lilja 4-Eves, a Swedish-Russian production.
Trafficking in persons is considered as one of the fastest-growing crimes worldwide. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that at least 2.5 million men, women, and minors are exploited in the world by traffickers and that at least $31.7 million are generated by this crime annually
This cycle of films will be especially dedicated to all the women who are victims of trafficking and it will also serve to celebrate the International Women’s Day.