Lara Dutta joins hands with MTV to battle human trafficking

Mumbai, Sep 21 (UNI) Bollywood actress Lara Dutta along with other international artists have joined the MTV EXIT campaign to raise awareness and increase prevention of human trafficking.

A documentary 'SOLD', an MTV EXIT special, produced in English and Hindi will be telecast tomorrow on MTV. It has been produced in partnership with USAID, The United States Agency for International Development. The documentary gives an insight into the realities of trafficking, addresses the part that everyone plays in the issue, and provides information on how individuals can protect themselves against trafficking, as well as what everyone can do to help to end exploitation and trafficking.

Speaking to reporters here Lara Dutta, who is MTV EXIT South Asia's Ambassador for the campaign said, ''I am glad that I can use my status as an actress in the Indian Film Industry, an industry for which India is crazy about, to create awareness about another underground industry-human trafficking, which is becoming alarmingly bigger and more nefarious day-by-day.

''I am especially proud of 'SOLD', which is a true eye-opener and hope that we will spread the message to help anyone and everyone fight against the pervasiveness of human being trafficking for manual labour, domestic labour and prostitution,'' the gorgeous lady added. MTV India General Manager and Creative and Content Vice President Ashish Patil said, ''Each one of us is a key link in the human trafficking chain. The first step in breaking that chain is creating awareness among the masses. The MTV Exit campaign hopes to do just that in signature MTV style, by speaking a language that the youth connect with and through some compelling stories, properly conveyed, the message can be driven to the homes of many.'' UNI