COSTA RICA: Spanish pop star Ricky Martin speaks out on human trafficking

Ricky Martin has announced a free 24-hour telephone service in Costa Rica to combat human trafficking and exploitation. The service is part of his international "Llame y Vive" - or "Call and Live" - program that has already seen success in El Salvador and Nicaragua as well as the South American countries Peru and Ecuador. World-famous pop sensation Ricky Martin announced in Costa Rica on Tuesday (February 20) a new element to his international campaign aimed at combating human smuggling. Martin met with Costa Rican president Oscar Arias on Tuesday to open in Costa Rica a free 24-hour telephone service to which people can report incidents related to human trafficking. The telephone service is being made available throughout Central America, and victims of trafficking or exploitation are also encouraged to use the telephone line to find help and support. The service is part Martin's international "Llame y Vive" - or "Call and Live" - program that has already seen success in El Salvador and Nicaragua as well as the South American countries Peru and Ecuador. "We have had a lot of success in various countries and the reason that we are here today in Costa Rica and the Costa Ricans - the ticos as they say - we want to help. We want to end this damn industry and to celebrate," Martin said. It is just the latest charitable initiative for the Puerto Rican heartthrob, who is a UNICEF Goodwill and was recently honored as the Latin Recording Academy's "Person of the Year" for his humanitarian work. Arias thanked him for his continuing work. "You are artist of international fame and what you are doing for the boys and girls of the world, these new generations are always going to appreciate and be thankful to you," Arias said. Martin's has also just set-off on his worldwide "Black and White" tour which continues through June. He'll be on the Latin American leg of the tour until the end of March and will hit the U.S. in April.

ITN Source | February 23, 2007

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