MIAMI, Jan. 11, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Every minute somewhere in the world, a human being is bought, sold or forced into slavery, and between 600,000 and 800,000 people are trafficked each year. Most people are not aware that this is a problem in the United States. But it is: between 14,500 and 17,500 human beings are trafficked into the United States every year. And of that number, half are children.
Most Floridians do not know that their state is a hub for Human Trafficking and that it records some of the highest incidences in the country of this type of criminal activity, which involves the commercial exchange and exploitation of humans including forced prostitution and pornography, involuntary labor and debt bondage.
For several years, MARCA, one of Miami's leading branding and creative agencies, has supported the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking (FCAHT) and its Founder / CEO Rodriguez with television spots, print and digital ad campaigns and web videos to help raise awareness and combat this serious problem.
Today is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. In recognition of this, MARCA recently released a new video "Makeover" which the agency hopes will be seen widely on the Internet and on social media and in this way raise further awareness and increase knowledge of the signs and symptoms of Human Trafficking. The video can be found on YouTube at http://bit.ly/1cLZ6xg.
A previous video created by MARCA for the FCAHT, "Auction," was noted for its powerful juxtaposition of a song describing a slave auction in the pre Civil War South with images of modern human beings, and was awarded a silver medal at the 8th Annual London International Awards last month as well as a shortlist at the Cannes Advertising Festival. It can be seen on the home page of the organization's website at www.stophumantrafficking.org.
"We wanted to continue the campaign started last year with the web video 'Auction' were we used strong license music to help gain awareness," said Armando Hernandez, Chief Creative Officer at MARCA. "People need to know what sometimes happens right under their noses." Anna Rodriguez of the FCAHT agrees. "Public awareness is one of our best weapons in this fight, and videos like MARCA's can be particularly useful," she stated.
About the FCAHT
The Florida Coalition against Human Trafficking is an entity of the Human Rights Advocacy Center, Inc. and provides trainings, outreach, victim services and referrals to victims of Human Trafficking. FCAHT strives to increase awareness and education about human trafficking through community organizations, law enforcement, medical providers, schools, judicial system, academia and faith-based groups trainings. FCAHT is an International and Domestic Agency. FCAHT has provided Human Trafficking trainings in over 30 countries since 2005. FCAHT's founder has been working Human Trafficking cases since 1999. For more information visit www.stophumantrafficking.org or call 727-442-3064.
About MARCA
MARCA is a full-service, cross-cultural marketing communications agency. Led by founders Tony Nieves (President) and Armando Hernandez (EVP Chief Creative Officer), MARCA is based in Miami. Current clients include DISH Network, Payless Shoe Source, H&R Block, TracFone Wireless, Inc., Oster and Kyocera. Everyone at MARCA has life and work experience in General, Hispanic and Latin American markets. For more information, visit www.marcamiami.com.
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