January 2016

IOM X is at the forefront of developing media and technology solutions to help prevent human trafficking and exploitation in Asia Pacific. Here are some highlights of what the organization achieved last quarter, from October-December 2015.

566,000 people globally know more about different issues related to human trafficking.

From October to December, over half a million people watched IOM X videos online. These videos included the Prisana series, which provides information about exploitation in the fishing industry, as well as three new videos: Post This (uses post-it notes to explain different types of exploitation), Connect Singapore (follows youth leaders as they quiz the public about human trafficking), and Safe Migration Tips (GoPro footage of IOM X’s youth leaders finding important symbols of a migrant’s journey in Bangkok). View IOM X videos here.

A free quiz app about human trafficking is now available in the Windows store.

The app was developed by IOM X for the youth outreach component of its IOM X Connect Singapore event. It consists of five simple questions about human trafficking, as well as an analytics feature that measures the overall knowledge of respondents. One hundred Singaporeans took the quiz when it was trialed in a busy shopping area on 14 November. Get the app here.

MTV viewers in Thailand and the Philippines better understand how exploitation can happen in the fishing industry.

IOM X’s Prisana videos were broadcast on MTV Thailand and MTV Pinoy 350 times in October and November. View the videos here.

Newspaper readers in Singapore see why combatting human trafficking requires a multi-sector approach.

Eight articles were generated by IOM X’s Connect Singapore panel discussion about human trafficking on 30 November. The diverse speaker group included representatives from the U.S. Embassy, Microsoft, UN Women Singapore Committee, H.O.M.E, and actress Eunice Olsen. The panelists spoke in depth about the need for the private sector, government and NGOs to work together to enhance counter-trafficking efforts, and showcased the results of such efforts. Read more here.

200 young people in Brunei and Vietnam are better equipped to prevent human trafficking.

IOM X’s Youth Leaders organized activities in Bandar Seri Begawan and Hanoi in October and November to raise awareness and understanding of human trafficking. The activities included a music night and a film screening, and were attended by 200 people.

IOM X is the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) innovative campaign to encourage safe migration and public action to stop human trafficking and exploitation.

The campaign leverages the power and popularity of media and technology to inspire young people and their communities to act against human trafficking – the buying and selling of people for the purpose of exploitation – which is happening in every country in the world today.

Since we first opened our doors in October 2014 we have accomplished a lot! In the first year alone we reached more than 75 million people through engaging content shared via television broadcast, online and screened at events across the Asia Pacific region.

There are a number of factors that make IOM X stand out from other campaigns, but our favourite factor is the emphasis we place on partnerships. At IOM X we recognise that we could not do the work that we do without the strong support from diverse partners and friends across the region: young advocates, community-based counter-trafficking organizations, service providers, technologists, companies with a strong sense of social responsibility, creative talent and, of course, you!

Through applying an evidence-based, participatory approach to the design and roll out of all IOM X content and events we have created a team culture of learning and creativity. With this blog we want to invite you to have a behind-the-scenes look at not only why we do what we do, but also how we do what we do.

Be sure to follow us to meet featured partners, receive updates on emerging trends, and to enjoy sneak peaks into events we attend and others we host. Each week we will aim to share something with you that informed and inspired us to consider exciting and innovative ways to bring you on this learning journey with us so that we can all act to end exploitation and human trafficking.