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Australian, Indian Stars Join 'MTV EXIT Live in Nepal' Anti-Trafficking ConcertsSunday, August 30, 2009 KATHMANDU (Aug. 31) – Chart-topping Australian pop star Kate Miller-Heidke today confirmed her participation in the MTV EXIT Live in Nepal concert tour which features Indian singer Sunidhi Chauhan and several of Nepal’s top artistsThe MTV End Exploitation and Trafficking (MTV EXIT) campaign, sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the MTV Europe Foundation – a London-based charity – raises awareness about domestic and cross-border human trafficking. Miller-Heidke will perform Sept. 12 in Pokhara in the foothills of the Himalayas. Her concert will follow the kick-off event in Kathmandu on Sept. 5, and precede concerts in Hetauda on Sept. 15 and Dharan on Sept. 19. All concerts are free of charge. “I am thrilled to be visiting Nepal and performing to raise awareness about human trafficking,” Miller-Heidke said. “I hope a lot of young people, especially women, come to these concerts and learn that anyone can be a victim of trafficking. We must protect ourselves from this horrible practice.” The MTV EXIT Live in Nepal tour will feature numerous homegrown artists who are committing their support to the MTV EXIT campaign. They include Nima Rumba, Kranti Ale, Nalina Chitrakar, and Shreya Sotang. Non-governmental organizations in Nepal estimate that as many as 15,000 Nepali women and girls are trafficked to India annually, while 7,500 children are trafficked domestically for commercial sexual exploitation. In addition, an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 Nepali girls become involuntary domestic workers each year within Nepal, according to the U.S. Department of State’s 2009 “Trafficking in Persons Report.” The U.S. Government estimates that as many as 800,000 people are trafficked internationally each year and that millions more are trafficked within their own countries. Many are from the Asia Pacific. Victims are often young men and women – MTV’s demographic – who are guilty of only wanting a better life. “Efforts to stop human trafficking have been hampered by the public’s lack of awareness about the severity of this problem,” said Olivier Carduner, USAID’s Regional Mission Director for Asia. “USAID is funding this project with MTV because of the unique opportunity that MTV provides to reach millions of people through broadcasts and its events.” Raising awareness will encourage communities to promote the law enforcement and victim outreach efforts needed to stop this form of modern-day slavery, Carduner said. “We are delighted that Kate Miller-Heidke is joining us for this tour and lending her music and talent to raise awareness about human trafficking,” said Simon Goff, MTV EXIT’s Director. “Music can be an incredible force for change and through these events that will be held across Nepal and Asia, MTV EXIT will empower young people and their peers to avoid trafficking.” The concert tour will provide content for a series of television programmes produced by MTV EXIT that will be broadcast in Nepal on Kantipur TV and on MTV channels internationally. These specials will combine concert footage with important information about human trafficking. All MTV EXIT television programming is produced rights-free and is free of charge for broadcasters and organizations to use. Full concert tour details are as follows:
### ENDS ### Additional Information: MTV EXIT The MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking) campaign is an award-winning multimedia initiative to raise awareness and increase prevention of human trafficking and exploitation. MTV EXIT was launched in Europe in 2004, in partnership with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida, and expanded across Asia with USAID in 2007. To date MTV EXIT has produced many MTV documentaries and other programming on trafficking, including Sold: An MTV EXIT Special presented by Lara Dutta, Traffic: An MTV EXIT Special, presented by Lucy Liu; Inhuman Traffic, presented by Angelina Jolie; over a dozen localized language versions presented by Asian celebrities; short films; public service announcements; and animation. MTV EXIT and Radiohead collaborated on an anti-exploitation video for their song All I Need, which premiered across MTV’s global network on 1 May 2008. MTV EXIT has also established partnerships with over 100 non-governmental organizations, distributed hundreds of thousands of anti-trafficking brochures in over 25 languages, and reached out to millions of young people through anti-trafficking messages at concerts and music festivals featuring R.E.M., Radiohead, The White Stripes, The Hives, Thievery Corporation, and hundreds of other international and local artists. For more information see www.mtvexit.org. Human Trafficking Human Trafficking is defined by the United Nations as “the recruitment, transportation, and receipt of a person for sexual or economical exploitation by force, fraud, coercion, or deception” in order to make a profit. The UN estimates that at any one time there are 2.5 million trafficked victims in the world, with the majority of these victims in Asia and the Pacific. It is the second-largest illegal trade after drugs, with criminal traffickers earning over US$10 billion every year through the buying and selling of human beings. Often, victims are young men and women – the MTV demographic – who are guilty only of wanting a better life. MTV Europe Foundation Launched in 2003, the MTV Europe Foundation is a UK-based charity (Reg. No. 1103267) whose overarching aim is to utilize and maximize the power of MTV’s network to educate youth and adults on critical social and human rights issues. The Foundation produces multimedia programming and events aimed at raising awareness and influencing attitudes and behaviors on key issues, as well as inspiring young people to take action. In addition, the Foundation seeks to support nongovernmental organizations that are working on the ground to address these issues and effect positive change. About MTV Networks in Asia MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks in Asia comprises three distinctly branded channels in the region: MTV, the world’s largest television network and the leading multimedia brand for youth; Nickelodeon, the leading entertainment brand dedicated exclusively to kids; and VH1, the music video network that keeps adult viewers connected to the music they love. MTV Networks has the following channels and programming services in South and Southeast Asia: MTV Asia, MTV China, MTV India, MTV Indonesia, MTV Mandarin, MTV Pakistan, MTV Philippines and MTV Thailand, Nick Asia, Nick India, Nick Indonesia, Nick Pakistan, VH1 India, VH1 Indonesia and VH1 Thailand. MTV and Nickelodeon’s businesses also include branded consumer products, program sales and digital media including online and wireless. USAID USAID, the United States Agency for International Development, is an independent US government agency that receives foreign-policy guidance from the US Secretary of State. Since 1961, USAID has been the principal US agency extending assistance to countries worldwide recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms. USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia, based in Bangkok, oversees a broad portfolio of regional and transnational programs, and also provides support to several USAID bilateral missions in Asia. Its regional approach addresses problems that cross national boundaries, such as human and wildlife trafficking, HIV/AIDS, natural resources conservation, trade, and political and economic conflict. See www.usaid.gov and www.usaid.gov/rdma/ for more information. Kate Miller-Heidke  Kate Miller-Heidke trained as an opera singer in Australia, but has since built a solid career in popular music, recording for Sony-BMG Australia. Miller-Heidke released her debut album Little Eve in Australia in 2007 and her second album, Curiouser, in October 2008. The third single from the album, “Last Day On Earth,” is currently number 3 on the coveted Australian Top-40 singles chart, making it Kate’s highest selling single. Miller-Heidke was nominated in 2007 for four ARIA Music Awards: Best Female Artist, Best Pop Release, Breakthrough Artist: Album and Breakthrough Artist: SingleKate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall were awarded the $US25,000 Grand Prize in the 2008 International Songwriting Competition for their composition "Caught in the Crowd," which had been released in Australia as the second single from Curiouser. Kate performed for the historic MTV EXIT Live at Angkor Wat concert in December 2008 alongside UK rock band Placebo and US pop group The Click Five. Sunidhi Chauhan  Sunidhi Chauhan began to sing in India at the age of four, winning a televised, singing contest, Meri Awaz Suno, which led to her performing for the Hindi film Shastra. Her breakthrough was Ram Gopal Verma's film Mast, in which she sang the hit song Ruki Ruki Si Zindagi. Chauhan has since worked with numerous prominent musicians and sung in several commercially successful films.Sunidhi has worked with practically every major Indian music director of the new millennium's first decade, and is one of the most played voices on India's radio circuit. Chauhan's strength lies in her versatility. She been labeled "genre-defying," and is perhaps the only popular singer who performs rock, pop, classical and folk. Chauhan's voice has been described as "powerful," "amazing," "husky” and “sensuous". | |||
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