Film star brings anti-trafficking message

Major news in <The Myanmar Times> :  Film star brings anti-trafficking message

By May Sandy ( Volume 32, No. 634 July 9 – 15, 2012 )

CHINESE action film star Jackie Chan brought his trademark sense of humour to Myanmar last week to campaign for a serious issue: child trafficking.

King of the kids / Hong Kong action film star and UN Children’s Fund goodwill ambassador Jackie Chan poses for a photo with children in Yangon on July 7 as part of a UNICEF campaign to help combat child trafficking. Pic: AFP

The actor arrived on July 5 in his role as goodwill ambassador of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), declaring that his mission was to send the message that “Children are not for sale”.

UNICEF representative in Myanmar Mr Ramesh Shrestha said Mr Chan could play a valuable role in raising greater awareness around the issue.

“There is a need to further strengthen the public awareness on the harm [done] to children who are being trafficked. Children lose their childhood as a result of trafficking. Many children are tricked with false expectations,” he told The Myanmar Times last week.

“I expect that the anti-trafficking messages that Jackie Chan will deliver will be remembered by the people and internalised. This could help in reducing and perhaps ending the problems of trafficking altogether,” he said.

“Jackie Chan is a famous artist who can influence people’s thinking, choices and decisions. When positive messages are delivered through famous people such as Jackie Chan there is a general tendency for people to listen.

“Jackie Chan also has a good sense of humour as we see him movies such as Rush Hour and Shanghai Knights. When people deliver messages through humour it impacts on people and people remember them.”

During his three-day visit, Mr Chan visited training centres in Yangon and Mandalay for trafficked children who managed to return to their homes but are in need of care and support. He met the children, listened to their stories and explained how they can protect themselves from trafficking.

While in Myanmar, Mr Chan discussed efforts to effectively combat human trafficking with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement and with members of its anti-trafficking police task force. He also met movie stars involved in efforts to combat the trafficking of children.

Mr Chan has been a UNICEF goodwill ambassador since 2004.

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