Source: The Information Daily
Saturday, August 25, 2012
The 8th Scottish Festival of Politics A Force for Positive Change brings politicians and artists together to explore links between politics, culture and creativity
Guests at the 2012 Festival of Politics include former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Jose Manuel Ramos-Horta, the former president of East Timor and former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell.
Modern-day slavery is a growing problem, with forced labour claiming close to 21 million victims globally. According to International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates, up to 1.6 million people are trapped in forced labour, slavery and other situations involving trafficking in Central, South-Eastern, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. There are more than 800,000 victims in the EU.
The OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, spoke today at the Festival of Politics highlighting the benefits of using photography, theatre and dance in campaigns to raise awareness about the growing problem of modern-day slavery.“
Arts and creativity have the power to challenge destructive stereotypes such as ‘otherness’ and inferiority, which are often used to justify exploitation, especially of migrant workers. Arts reinforce in every individual a sense of belonging to a single human community in every individual,” Giammarinaro said at the festival, which is hosted by the Scottish Parliament.
The OSCE Special Representative spoke at a panel also attended by Scottish actor and director Cora Bissett and Trish Davidson, founder and director of the Unchosen anti-trafficking charity.
Giammarinaro added that events such as film festivals and photographic exhibitions are an important form of outreach that can be used to help new audiences understand the reality of trafficking and the plight of trafficking victims.
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