Vietnam Pop Star Mỹ Tâm Hosts New MTV Exit Documentary Revealing Real-Life Stories of Human Trafficking in Vietnam

HANOI, May 15, 2012 -- The USAID co-sponsored MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking), today announced the launch of new half-hour documentary film, Enslaved: An MTV EXIT Special, hosted by Mỹ Tâm, the newly appointed MTV EXIT Celebrity Ambassador to Vietnam and one of the country's leading pop stars. The powerful documentary film will give audiences a rare glimpse into human trafficking and exploitation, telling stories of survivors and highlighting what everyone can do to help end this horrific crime. Enslaved: An MTV EXIT Special will premiere on Vietnam Television (VTV) and on MTV Vietnam channel on 2 June 2012. Full broadcast details to be announced.

Enslaved gives audiences a real-life look glimpse into this critical social problem telling real-life stories of Vietnamese people affected by the human trafficking trade. Two friends Lin and Trong tell their account of being trafficked to carry out hard manual labour in a brick factory; Khanh shares her story of how she was trafficked to work on a chicken farm; and Thien, a young girl shares on how she was deceived and trafficked as a forced sex worker. MTV EXIT celebrity ambassador to Vietnam and host of Enslaved, Mỹ Tâm connects these experiences to the audience, while demonstrating how Vietnamese can protect themselves and their families from being trafficked, and highlighting what everyone can do to help end this horrific crime.

Mỹ Tâm will also be joining the fight against human trafficking by performing at the MTV EXIT Live in Hanoi free concert at Hanoi's My Dinh Stadium on 26 May. The massive live concert will be headlined by international modern-rock sensation, Simple Plan. Joining the line-up are
Korean pop group Brown Eyed Girls and Australian vocal sensation, Kate Miller-Heidke who previously performed at MTV EXIT's 2010 concert in Hanoi, as well as top local artists, Karik, Buc Tuong, DJ Tri Minh, and Bigtoe.

The 26 May live concert follows the MTV EXIT's 2010 concert tour in Vietnam, which saw 80,000 Vietnamese music fans attend four concerts across the country, including the massive event at My Dinh Stadium featuring K-pop superstars, Super Junior.

"We are thrilled to be coming back to Vietnam to continue our campaign against human trafficking," said Matt Love, MTV EXIT's Campaign Director. "After our successful 2010 tour in Vietnam, we are excited to be bringing together some fantastic international and local artists to further inspire youth to join the fight to end human trafficking in partnership with the
Government of Vietnam, USAID, AusAID and ASEAN."

"For years, the Government of Vietnam has recognized the importance of preventing human trafficking and protecting human rights.  The Government of Vietnam has issued different regulations, decrees and instructions on preventing human trafficking, as well as collaborations with international organizations to develop legal frameworks on anti-human trafficking to help
victims integrate into their communities," said Dr. Nguyen Van Tinh, General-Director of the Department of International Co-operation, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam. "Standing together to end this issue is the responsibility of society along with the proactive engagement of the Government of Vietnam. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, with its function as the State-governing agency of cultural, art and family activities, commits to
collaborate actively with local and international agencies and organizations to advocate and improve the awareness on preventing human trafficking and exploitation."

"Human trafficking is a worldwide scourge that all countries must work together to address," said U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam David Shear. "The U.S. government is proud to be working with MTV and other partners to raise awareness of the dangers of trafficking in persons, with the shared goal of helping young people in Vietnam and around the region to understand what they can do to protect themselves and their communities."

Joining today's press launch, USAID Vietnam Mission Director Francis Donovan noted that by "raising the profile of this critical social issue, millions of people can be informed and can safeguard themselves and their communities from trafficking. Joining the campaign against human trafficking is more than a choice -- it is a responsibility we share."

Michael Wilson, AusAID's Minister-Counsellor, Mekong and Regional said, "The work of MTV EXIT reminds us that ending human trafficking is everyone's responsibility. Individuals, families, businesses and governments all have a role to play in stopping this trade in human life and ensuring justice for its victims. Human trafficking calls for a global response. Australia is committed to working with Vietnam and its partners in the region on this issue of shared international concern."

MTV EXIT is supported by the following partners: VTV, MTV Vietnam, An Thuan Media, TQPR Vietnam, NCT, Sinh Vien Vietnam, Hoa Hoc Tro, Xone FM, Rockpassion.vn and Baomoi.com. For details on how to get FREE tickets to the MTV EXIT Live in Hanoi concert go to www.mtvexit.org/vietnam. 

MTV EXIT is produced in partnership with the Government of Vietnam including the full support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST), Ministry of Public Security, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Australian Government's Agency for International Development (AusAID), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

View photos of the press launch here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usaid_vietnam/sets/72157629735888404/

For more details about human trafficking and exploitation in Asia, visit www.mtvexit.org/vietnam or
follow MTV EXIT on the following social media platforms: Twitter @mtvexit, @usaidvietnam, www.facebook.com/mtvexit, www.facebook.come/usaidvietnam.