Pink International, ASTRA and the MTV Europe Foundation will host a premiere screening of MTV’s “Parallel Lives” in Belgrade on April 26, 2005. Parallel Lives is a series of five short films (forming a 30-minute compilation) that were shot in Serbia using Serbian actors and actresses. The films are introduced/narrated by Helena Christensen (super model), Holwin Pelle (Swedish rockstar of the Hives), and Gavin Rossdale (formerly of the UK band, Bush, and soon to be in the new group, Institute). Fast-paced and edgy, these short films compare the lives of ordinary young Europeans across Europe with those of trafficking victims through seemingly unrelated, yet closely-connected dialogues.

In sponsoring this event, Pink International’s President, Mr. Zeljko Mitrovic, commented:

“I am pleased to join forces with ASTRA and MTV Europe to draw more attention to the criminality of human-trafficking. I am hopeful that awareness-raising activities such as this will help prevent another child or young person from becoming a victim – another statistic. Human-trafficking not only takes an excessive toll on the individual lives of woman and children who become victims but this criminal activity undermines all our objectives to create a society where we can all be safe and secure. I believe that we must all be aware of this issue and do all we can to protect our families, children, friends and neighbors.”

Pink International, ASTRA and MTV Europe will organize the formal screening of Parallel Lives at the Belgrade Municipal Hall on April 26, 2005. MTV Europe has selected Serbia and Montenegro to premiere this documentary to draw attention to this growing regional problem. Each year, tens of thousands of women and children are trafficked through Serbia and the Balkans. Serbia is also a source country of trafficked victims. ASTRA information indicates that the number of Serbian victims trafficked within Serbia is also rising.

Pink International, ASTRA and MTV Europe have worked together previously to heighten awareness of human trafficking issues. On March 7, 2005, Pink International cooperated with MTV Europe and ASTRA to air the MTV documentary “Inhuman Traffic,” -- introduced by Angelina Jolie (award-winning actress and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador) -- an unflinching, searing view into the lives of real people involved in the human trafficking chain: women victims who have been trafficked and sexually enslaved; the criminals who exploit the victims; the men who pay for sex; and those fighting to track down and bring the criminals to justice. Pink International has also supported human trafficking awareness activities during the KLIK Fall and Spring Fashion Shows, to alert girls and young women to the dangers posed to them by trafficking criminals who try to lure them with false promises. Inhuman Traffic premiered on February 23, 2005, on MTV and was broadcast by 23 stations in 17 countries in Central/Southeastern Europe on March 7-8, 2005.

For more information on anti-trafficking issues and activities, please see the ASTRA website at: www.astra.org.yu If you, or you believe a family member or friend, have been a victim of human trafficking, we urge you to call the ASTRA SOS Hotline for immediate help: +381 11 33 47 817

For more information on the screening of Parallel Lives or other Pink International activities related to anti-trafficking activities, please contact: Ms. Manja Vukojevic.

CONTACT:
Ms. Manja Vukojevic
External Relations for Special Initiatives
Tel : +381 63 478 258
E-mail : manja@rtvpink.com