"FONTLINE: SEX SLAVES" SCREENING: EVENT

UNCLAS BAKU 001762 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP JENNIFER SCHROCK DONNELLY, PA/OBS KATE LELAND AND KENNETH SALES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KPAO OIIP PRE PHUM SOCI SCUL KWMN KCRM AJ SUBJECT: "FONTLINE: SEX SLAVES" SCREENING: EVENT ASSESSMENTREPORT REF: STATE 073395 ¶1. On December 2, Poloff screened the documentary film "Frontline: Sex Slaves" with a group of approximately 35 members of the American Alumni Association, an organization comprised of Azerbaijani youth, mostly in their twenties and thirties, who have studied in the U.S. ¶2. After viewing the film, the group engaged in a lively discussion of trafficking in persons. Poloff explained the different forms of trafficking, and the problems specific to Azerbaijan. Participants asked questions about statistics, and what the GOAJ is doing to combat TIP. The group's general consensus was that there is insufficient public awareness of TIP, with most of the population regarding trafficking as "just a prostitution problem." Many showed interest in exploring creative ways to increase public awareness of TIP, such as translating a film like "Frontline: Sex Slaves" into the Azerbaijani language for public broadcast. Poloff also screened UNODC PSAs on sex and labor trafficking, and distributed informational materials from G/TIP. ¶3. We believe this was a very useful public affairs event. We will continue to search for groups with whom screening this documentary would be appropriate, and will report further activities septel. DERSE