03 Oct Sexual Trafficking Is Happening In Our Backyard
Filmed by Monica Watkins & Pei Jung Wang
Produced by Cassandra Bankson, Monica Watkins & Suwana Perry
Edited by Monica Watkins
Animation by Pei Jung Wang
Illustrations by Michael Raeuschl and Monthida Chornkhunthot
Music By Today Kid
"It is our human obligation to be a voice for the voiceless". Meet me at Beautycon NYC In support of Beauty For Freedom; Sex trafficking is a form of modern slavery that is ravaging communities throughout the United States and globally. Sex traffickers use violence, threats, lies, debt bondage, and other forms of coercion to compel adults and children to engage in commercial sex acts against their will. Shockingly, there are approximately 20 to 30 million slaves in the world today. Of this number, 26% of them are children, 55% are women and girls and approximately 80% of trafficking involves sexual exploitation. Beauty For Freedom is committed to ending this devastating practice by raising awareness and supporting sex-trafficking survivors through its various art-based campaigns and programs.
October 1st, 2016 Anti-trafficking Organization Beauty for Freedom launched their "I Want To Break Free" (IWTBF) Campaign at BeautyCon NYC, a beauty festival which aggregates celebrities, fans and brands with common interests of beauty, fashion and style. Celebs in attendance included Drew Barrymore, Ashley Graham, Kelly Roland, Jordyn Woods, Justine Skye, Shaun Ross, Niki Demartino, Audrey W, Bethany Noel Mota, Brendan Jordan, Joe Zee and Skyler Samuels. Notable activations were produced by top beauty and entertainment brands Maybelline New York, L’Oréal TalentFlower Beauty, QVC, Carols Daughter and VH1’s ANTM.
Creative-directed and conceptualized by Beauty for Freedom Ambassador and Creative Director Michael Räuschl, the IWTBF project is a cross-media awareness and documentary film campaign meant to provoke and inspire viewers to imagine a world where freedom exists for all. Beauty for Freedom Executive Director Monica Watkins joined Vlogger/Activist/Model Cassandra Banksonand Michael Raeuschl in hosting the Beauty for Freedom /Beautycon booth activation. Cassandra Bankson produced a special Beauty for Freedom Social Media "I Want To Break Free" series inviting guests to join in posting short videos and photos raising awareness and becoming a voice for the voiceless! Beauty for Freedom Executive Board MemberSuwana Perry produced the Beautycon NYC Activation.
"I Want To Break Free" features celebrities, influencers and activists, all photographed by renowned artist/photographers Hassan Kinley and Shaun Mader. In addition to the documentary film, developed in cooperation with German Artist Monthida Chon, the campaign features a series of 5 key images in a dynamic pop-art style. These images and illustrations feature hands blocking freedom and white doves escape from these same hands, a symbol of hope and power.
Esteemed Beauty for Freedom Sponsors Include Merchant’s Resource Group, Jerry Chu, NOIZY Brands and CTM Sisters Productions.
Please stay tuned for our media launch and exhibition in the coming weeks.
For press inquiries and and sponsorship opportunities, please email info@beautyforfreedom.org