George Best Belfast City Airport is supporting The A21 Campaign, a non-profit organisation that calls for the abolition of human trafficking, by co-sponsoring the ‘Frocks For Freedom’ fashion event.
Bringing together a host of leading names from Northern Ireland’s fashion, sport, music and dance scenes, Frocks For Freedom will be held at the Belfast City Hall on 5 October. The event will include dance performances by Vibe Academy, the launch of Unify Fashion Collective’s Spring/Summer 2014 Collections, special modeling appearances by Gaelic Athletics Association and Rugby stars, as well as music by Cola Cubes and Rosie Carney.
The airport’s support of the event was said to be prompted by figures revealing Northern Ireland as a key source, transit and destination state for human trafficking. Statistics show that 73% of human trafficking in Northern Ireland is in the area of sexual exploitation and the region is said to be one of the fastest growing sex industries in Europe.
George Best Belfast City Airport Communications Manager Ruth Morgan said: “I was deeply moved when I met with A21 and heard some of the horrifying stories. It’s incredibly sad to think about the sheer scale of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Northern Ireland and disturbing to think it is going on right under our own noses.
“The aim of the airport’s Community Fund, which fines airlines for operating late flights, is about supporting projects which change and improve people’s lives, particularly our young people, and we were shocked to hear the average age of trafficking victims around the world is just 12 years old. We couldn’t sit back and let this happen,” she stressed.
Helen Cupples, an A21 advocate and organiser of Frocks For Freedom, commented: “We have been deeply compelled to act and raise awareness about the sad prevalence of trafficking in this country. Most people don’t know about this problem in Northern Ireland; they think it is too small a country for this to be happening in, but it is occurring, and on a fast growing scale.
“The word freedom gives a clue to the nature of this event and yet its importance cannot be underestimated by any measure. The A21 Campaign exists to abolish injustice in the 21st century, focusing primarily on the horrors of the growing organised crime, human trafficking. In fact, 27 million people are enslaved globally.
“A strategy of public education, improved legislative and judicial measures, together with consolidation of a community-based system of support and vigilance to assist with the rescue and ultimate restoration of victims and prosecution of offenders is crucial,” she added.
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Launching Frocks For Freedom at Belfast City Airport were A21 advocate Helen Cupples, Chair of the Northern Ireland Justice Committee and MLA Paul Givan, Belfast City Airport Communications Manager Ruth Morgan and one of the event’s models Destiny Carlisle |
A recent announcement by the Department of Justice to roll out an information programme about human trafficking into the Northern Ireland school curriculum was welcomed by The A21 Campaign.
Chair of the Northern Ireland Justice Committee and Member of the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly (MLA) Paul Givan said: “The trafficking of human beings is an abhorrent crime that destroys the lives of victims and their families through this heinous exploitation. Tackling this crime requires the co-ordinated and dedicated efforts across all Government Departments and Criminal Justice agencies.”
GAA (Gaelic Athletics Association) hurling star Paul Shiels added: “Myself and other players were horrified to learn of the scale of human trafficking in our towns and cities. We want to participate in Frocks For Freedom to help highlight the plight of victims and in particular encourage young people to be vigilant and understand how serious this issue is.”
Unify Collective Fashion Studio Manager David Henderson commented: “It’s a privilege to be able to showcase our collections in support of and in the name of those victims who are trapped in lives of cruelty and fear, just a stone’s throw from many of our doors. We are both thrilled and honoured to participate in this great event.” Unify Fashion Collective will also be auctioning off a couture piece created by one of its top designers during the event.
For further information or to purchase a ticket for the Frocks For Freedom event visit www.frocksforfreedom.org.
About the George Best Belfast City Airport Community Fund
The George Best Belfast City Airport Community Fund has donated almost £100,000 to local projects and groups since it was developed in 2009.
Groups which have received support from the Community Fund include Short Strand and Knocknagoney Community Centres, Glentoran Community Trust, FASA, Action for Children, North Down Special Olympics, Transplant Games, Music Theatre For Youth and the East Belfast Community Development Agency.
