“Annual Award 2014 on coverage of human trafficking and fight against it” has taken place

On June 06, 2014 the “Annual Award 2014 on coverage of human trafficking and fight against it” took place at the United Nations office premises in Armenia.

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The award has initiated by the Armenian council of human trafficking issues, represented by the deputy Prime minister, minister of territorial administration Armen Gevorgyan, deputy secretary of the council, head of migration service Gagik Eganyan.
It is already the third year that the “Freedom of Information Centre of Armenia” NGO is organizing the award.Professional jury, the members of which are trafficking experts and journalists, chooses the best journalistic works of the year.
Being organized for already the third time the Annual Award aims to contribute to raising public awareness on trafficking and the combating it throughencouraging journalists and authors who refer to the topic.
In the “TV and Radio” nomination the second place was awarded to the journalist of the “Free Zone” talk show of the Armenian first channel Anna Hayrapetyan for “The slavery of 21st century” program. In the same nomination the third place was awarded to the journalist of Armnews TV channel Gohar Aramyan for “Trafficking term. Life deadlock” reportage.
In the conversation with us, Anna mentioned that it is hard for a journalist to work with the Trafficking subject if the knowledge on the topic is not sufficient. According to her words “Three days at anti trafficking zone” training for journalists organized by “Audio-Visual reporters association” NGO in April had been a great guidance both to her and to the team of “Free Zone” talk show.
“When you start studying trafficking issue, only then you realize how little information you possess on it in regard to both correct definitions and the method of working with victims. During the three days training organized by “Audio-Visual Reporters Association” NGO, we have obtained much knowledge about trafficking, which helps us to develop working formulas which in their turn create responsibilities in yourself: one does not have a right to play with already broken destinies” mentioned Anna.
In the “Print and online media” nomination the third place was given to the journalist of
“Hetq” news Yeranuhi Soghoyan for “Nelly is being evicted from the village” publication. During her speech of gratitude Yeranuhi mentioned, that it would be better if such journalistic awards did not exist after all. By that she expressed her great wish that trafficking phenomenon did not exist, so that journalists would not have to write about broken destinies.

The professional jury did not allocate first place awards in both nominations in 2014. In the “Print and online media” even the second place remained vacant.
In his turn Edward O’Brien transnational crime affairs officer of bureau for international narcotics and law enforcement affairs of the Embassy of the United States of America, mentioned that the importance in the fight against trafficking can not only be conducted by comparison work, but mainly with the help of journalistic field by always being in touch with people and always working with them, as trafficking isnot finally solved problem yet.

The winning works may be viewed by the following links:

Yeranuhi Soghoyan – http://hetq.am/arm/news/54506/nelliin-gyuxic-cankanum-en-vtarel.html

Gohar Aramyan – http://www.armnewstv.am/news/27660

Anna Hayrapetyan (Free zone) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR_smsZsYB8