Rock Concert in Bangkok Against Human Trafficking

The following is yesterday's press release from our partners, MTV EXIT, about their upcoming event to raise awareness and strengthen prevention of human trafficking, particularly of Burmese in Thailand, an especially at-risk population.

U.S. ROCKERS THE CLICK FIVE TO HEADLINE MTV EXIT CONCERT IN BANGKOK TO RAISE AWARENESS AND INCREASE PREVENTION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
------------------------------------------------

THAI ARTISTS POTATO, THAITANIUM, SLOT MACHINE AND BRAND NEW SUNSET JOIN BURMESE STARS PHYU PHYU, YA THA, SAW PHOE QUAR AND KYET PHA WHO WILL BE PERFORMING IN THAILAND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

BANGKOK 26 November 2008 – MTV Thailand, the MTV Europe Foundation and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) today announced a special MTV EXIT concert in Bangkok to raise awareness and increase prevention of human trafficking. The event’s organisers are making a special effort to reach the Burmese migrant community in Thailand, a group at risk of trafficking and exploitation. The concert takes place at Parc Paragon on Sunday, 14 December.

Headlining the concert are US rockers The Click Five, winners of the Knockout Award at the 2008 MTV Asia Awards. Thai artists Potato, Thaitanium, Slot Machine and Brand New Sunset are supporting the campaign with performances at the concert.

These artists are joined by four Burmese stars – Phyu Phyu, Ya Tha, Saw Phoe Quar, and Kyet Pha – performing in Thailand for the first time.

The concert will reach out to the estimated 1 million Burmese migrants in Thailand to promote an understanding of trafficking issues and provide prevention information.

MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking) is a project of the MTV Europe Foundation -- a London-based registered charity – to raise awareness and increase prevention of human trafficking and exploitation. MTV EXIT in Asia is produced in partnership with USAID.

MTV EXIT has produced extensive programming and events in Europe and Asia to raise understanding about human trafficking. These have included documentaries presented by Angelina Jolie, Tata Young, Lucy Liu, Rain and other Asian celebrities, a music video collaboration with Radiohead, and multiple live concerts with artists including R.E.M. and Radiohead.

“We are thrilled and feel privileged to have been invited to participate in this exciting concert to help promote the MTV EXIT campaign in Thailand,” the members of The Click Five said. “The campaign to stop human trafficking addresses a fundamental human right that affects all members of our human race. We look forward to playing our music, meeting new friends and doing whatever we can to help in this important cause.”

"Music can be an incredible force for change and through this special concert and the other events that will be held across Asia, MTV EXIT will empower young people and their peers to combat trafficking," said Simon Goff, Campaign Director of MTV EXIT.

"On-the-ground events, like the ones we’re supporting in Bangkok, Phnom Penh and elsewhere in Asia, aim to break the cycle of trafficking," said USAID Mission Director Olivier Carduner. "By working with MTV, NGOs and governments throughout Asia, we can teach young people to protect themselves by learning to identify the tactics used by traffickers and those seeking to exploit."

MTV EXIT television programming is produced rights-free and free of charge for all broadcasters and organisations.
For more information, please contact:
Matt Love, MTV EXIT, +66 837 889 640, love.matt@mtvne.com

More Information:

MTV EXIT
The MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking) campaign is an award-winning multimedia initiative to raise awareness and increase prevention of human trafficking and exploitation. MTV EXIT was launched in Europe in 2004, in partnership with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida, and expanded across Asia with USAID in 2007. To date MTV EXIT has produced many MTV documentaries and other programming on trafficking, including Traffic: An MTV EXIT Special, presented by Lucy Liu; Inhuman Traffic, presented by Angelina Jolie; over a dozen localized language versions presented by Asian celebrities; short films; public service announcements; and animation. MTV EXIT and Radiohead collaborated on an anti-exploitation video for their song All I Need, which premiered across MTV’s global network on 1 May 2008. MTV EXIT has also established partnerships with over 100 non-governmental organisations, distributed hundreds of thousands of anti-trafficking brochures in over 25 languages, and reached out to millions of young people through anti-trafficking messages at concerts and music festivals featuring R.E.M., Radiohead, The White Stripes, The Hives, Thievery Corporation, and hundreds of other international and local artists. For more information see www.mtvexit.org.

Human Trafficking
Human Trafficking is defined by the United Nations as "the recruitment, transportation, and receipt of a person for sexual or economical exploitation by force, fraud, coercion, or deception" in order to make a profit. The UN estimates that at any one time there are 2.5 million trafficked victims in the world, with the majority of these victims in Asia and the Pacific. It is the second-largest illegal trade after drugs, with criminal traffickers earning over US$10 billion every year through the buying and selling of human beings. Often, victims are young men and women – the MTV demographic – who are guilty only of wanting a better life.

MTV Europe Foundation
Launched in 2003, the MTV Europe Foundation is a UK-based charity (Reg. No. 1103267) whose overarching aim is to utilize and maximize the power of MTV’s network to educate youth and adults on critical social and human rights issues. The Foundation produces multimedia programming and events aimed at raising awareness and influencing attitudes and behaviors on key issues, as well as inspiring young people to take action. In addition, the Foundation seeks to support nongovernmental organizations that are working on the ground to address these issues and effect positive change.

USAID
USAID, the United States Agency for International Development, is an independent US government agency that receives foreign-policy guidance from the US Secretary of State. Since 1961, USAID has been the principal US agency extending assistance to countries worldwide recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms. USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia, based in Bangkok, oversees a broad portfolio of regional and transnational programs, and also provides support to several USAID bilateral missions in Asia. Its regional approach addresses problems that cross national boundaries, such as human and wildlife trafficking, HIV/AIDS, natural resources conservation, trade, and political and economic conflict. See www.usaid.gov and www.usaid.gov/rdma/ for more information..
Read more!

V-Day BKK Production Team

We'd like to take a minute at this point in the campaign to introduce you to ourselves:

As our director and de facto producer, Alanna is the driving force behind getting Bangkok's first production of The Vagina Monologues off the ground. She has a long history of involvement in V-Day and The Vagina Monologues, and as our production team continues to grow, and rehearsals get going, she'll be transitioning to dedicate a greater part of her energy to the direction side of things. She will, however, remain intimately involved in all fundraising efforts, especially in our kick-off and final events held in December and February respectively.

Chris has been an incredible force in getting the production on track, working with Alanna on putting together the press kit material and meeting and talking to women's organizations about partnerships. Chris organized the majority of our publicity efforts for auditions and managed all audition scheduling. He's also heading the organization of our January fundraiser party and has established key relationships with our performance venue, which will be announced shortly.

Matthew signed on about 3 weeks ago to the V-Day team and has hit the ground running, helping at auditions, starting and managing our blog and facebook group (V-Day in Bangkok), and planning our merchandising. He'll also be working on our efforts to help coordinate pre and post-V-Day discussions at universities in Bangkok and other outreach events.

We'll be needing to post more pictures and profiles soon, since our team has already doubled!

Read more!

Vagina Monologues 2009 Cast!

Casting is finished for Bangkok's first-ever official production of "The Vagina Monologues"!
We had an incredible turnout for auditions, which allowed us to put together a phenomenal cast, but also made making cuts an incredibly difficult process. Sadly, we weren't able to cast all the talented women who auditioned, but whether or not you were there, we would love to have you involved in the show. We have openings in publicity and PR, stage managing, and backstage work. If you are interested, please send us an email; we'd be honored to have you as a part of this historic campaign.
The production will be bilingual, with some monologues performed in Thai and others in English. Our first full cast meeting will be next Tuesday December 2nd at 7PM at DemocraZy Studio. Congratulations to all who made it, and we look forward to working with all of you!

Full Cast List:

Sunanda Sachatrakul
Sharai Lewis-Gruss
Pimphat Chutrakul
Pornkamol Akkararungsakul
Katherine Roberts
Naveeya Pumhiran
Caroline James
Zoe Popham
Mary Le-Gruen
Puthitorn Auethawornpipat
Mod
Amelia Salyers
Joanne Ryan
Sonoko Prow
Rita Stockhowe
Yvonne Novakowski
Annie Millard
Miu
Dusanee Promtan
Kim
Rupa Nolan
Isabelle Onians
Joanne Ryan

Alanna (director/producer), Chris (producer) and Matthew (production coordinator) Read more!

Thailand Becoming Less Safe For Women

Thailand Becoming Less Safe For Women
In keeping with V-Days main purpose of ending violence against women worldwide, the V-Day Bangkok blog will be keeping up to date on violence against women in our corner of the world, as well as news on our upcoming benefit events and first production of The Vagina Monologues in February 2009. Today in The Nation, news that suggests the situation for women in Thailand is in fact getting worse, not better, both on the street and in our own homes.

Thailand becoming more unsafe for women
Published on November 26, 2008

A worryingly high number of spousal abuse cases, gang rapes and violence against women are being reported in Thailand, a women's right advocate said yesterday.

Thanawadi Thachin, director of the Friends of Women Foundation, citing a report from the World Health Organisation told a seminar in Chiang Mai that Thailand was one of the 10 countries with the highest number of spousal abuse. The seminar was held to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.


This year alone, she said, her foundation had received more than 700 complaints, 500 of which were for domestic violence, and the rest about sexual assault and unwanted pregnancy. According to a Ramathibodhi Hospital survey there are some five million families in Thailand.

Thanawadi said the Domestic Violence Victim Protection Act 2007 was a boon for women because it ensured that the wrongdoers were severely punished. However, few women file complaints against abusive husbands due to embarrassment or fear of further assault.

She added that there was also an increase in the number of abused or abandoned children.

Thanawadi also expressed concern about the emergence of videotapes showing rape, catfights among schoolgirls, teenage girls being gang raped and obscene clips taken by peeping toms. She said at least four or five gang-rape cases are reported every month, many of which are recorded in the South.

In related news, the Social Development and Human Security also hosted an anti-domestic-violence event at Bangkok's CentralWorld yesterday.

Privacy Policy © 2006 Nation Multimedia Group Thailand Web Stat

November 25, 2008 10:31 pm (Thai local time)
www.nationmultimedia.com
Read more!

V-Day Bangkok presents a benefit production of The Vagina Monologues

As a part of V-Day, an international campaign to end violence against women, "The Vagina Monologues" is a play that celebrates women. The play is comprised of a series of monologues based on interviews with women around the world on different topics that affect them. Famous actors around the world have performed in "The Vagina Monologues," and now "The Vagina Monologues" is coming to Bangkok! Sign up to audition and get a chance to make history on stage.

Email vdaybkk@gmail.com or call Alanna at 085 252 1786 to reserve your audition spot. No previous acting experience required. No age limit, we're looking for actresses of all ages. English and Thai speakers are welcome.

Auditions are:
Nov 18, 8pm-10pm 18 พฤศจิกายน , 20.00- 22.00 น.
Nov 19, 8pm-10pm 19 พฤศจิกายน , 20.00- 22.00 น.
Nov 23, 10am-1pm, 4pm-10pm วันอาทิตย์ที่ 23 พฤศจิกายน , 10.00- 13.00 น. และ, 16.00- 22.00 น.

V-Day องกรณ์ต่อต้านความรุนแรงต่อสตรี
นานาชาติ จะจัดการแสดง "The Vagina Monologues" เพื่อรณรงค์การต่อต้านความรุ

นแรงต่อสตรี ขึ้น อ้างอิงจากบทสัมภาษณ์เหตุการณ์จริงจากผู้หญิงทั่วโลก โดยมีนักแสดงที่มีชื่อเสียงจากทั่วโลกเข้าร่วมการแสดง
บัดนี้ "The Vagina Monologues" จะเปิดการแสดงที่กรุงเทพ
ขอเชิญผู้ที่สนใจจะเป็นส่วนหนึ่งในการสร้างประวัติศาตร์บนเวที เข้าร่วมการคัดเลือกผู้แสดง

ติดต่อสอบถามเพิ่มเติมและนัดเวลาการเข้าคัดเลือกได้ที่ Email vdaybkk@gmail.com หรือโทร. 085 252 1786
ผู้เข้าร่วมไม่จำเป็นต้องมีประสบการณ์ทางด้านการแสดงมาก่อน ไม่จำกัดอายุ และยินดีต้อนรับทั้งคนไทยและต่างชาติ

Read more!