Bulgaria Launches Campaign to Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings for Sexual Exploitation

Bulgaria Launches Campaign to Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings for Sexual Exploitation

The General Directorate Combating Organised Crime at the Ministry of Interior together with the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, and with the support of EMPACT, have launched a campaign to prevent trafficking in human beings with a focus on sexual exploitation, named Blind Betting (https://youtu.be/KnXXluzMad8). This campaign, which was planned and implemented entirely by a Bulgarian team, is conducted under the slogan Don't Gamble With Your Future. It aims at drawing the attention of the public and groups at risk to the methods of engaging in trafficking, identifying and supporting the victims of sexual exploitation.

 Blind Betting will be expanded to 26 European countries. Some of them are countries of origin of victims, such as Bulgaria, others are defined as destination countries, where traffickers exploit their victims.

The campaign is the result of the joint work of the Secretariat of the National Commission and the General Directorate Combating Organised Crime. The main visual symbol - a twofaced queen of hearts - was specially drawn for the project. The thematic videos for the campaign are the work of one of the most well-known movie directors in Bulgaria - Valeri Milev. Numerous visuals for online and offline dissemination, as well as an audio spot, have been created for the campaign. All promotional materials were provided to Member States for use, adapted to their official languages.

The campaign will run within two periods: from 28 June to 31 July, focusing on the risks of trafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation, and from 18 October to 30 November, focusing on users of sexual...