Celebrities
Charities
Causes
By Delinda Lombardo on April 1, 2008
In February of this year, singer Ricky Martin spent three-days at a United Nations conference in Vienna where he learned of Cambodia’s child trafficking problems. This week, he was reduced to tears during a charity trip to a Cambodian shelter where a teenage rape victim performed a song she wrote about her ordeal as a trafficking victim.
“She sings like an angel,” said Martin, a five-time Grammy Award winner.
The sultry pop star was representing his Ricky Martin Foundation in support of the fight against human trafficking when he visited a shelter in Siem Reap in order to spend time with children affected by sexual assaults. The shelter houses 65 victims of human trafficking, and Martin spent time comforting, among others, a 3-month-old girl whose mother was sold into prostitution, as well as numerous children in need of comfort.
After his visit, Martin was obviously touched by the stories from these young survivors.
“I’m not going to stop.” He told the children, “All of you are my heroes. You are a gift of my life.”

According to the United Nations, about 2.5 million people are involved in forced labor as a result of trafficking, with most victims between the ages of 18 and 24. The US State Department has called Cambodia a country that is ‘a source, destination and transit country for men, women, and children trafficked for sexual exploitation and labor.’
“The fact that you have 200 non-governmental groups working in the country working on human trafficking is unheard of,” Martin told Cambodian officials, according to the Associated Press.
Martin isn’t alone on his quest, and has joined actress Emma Thompson and Egyptian first lady Suzanne Mubarak in calling for action. Additionally, in 2005, Martin collaborated with the International Organization for Migration on “Llama y Vive” (Call and Live), a campaign aimed at the prevention of human trafficking, protection of the youngest victims of child trafficking, and prosecution of the traffickers.
Martin has been a vocal activits for years. In September 2002, he received a Hispanic Heritage Award for his humanitarian work through the Sabera Foundation in rescuing three orphan girls from the streets of Calcutta. He also acts as a Goodwill Ambassador to UNICEF, and established the Ricky Martin Foundation in Puerto Rico to advocate for the welfare of children around the world.
Martin established the Ricky Martin Foundation in Puerto Rico, to effectively pursue his humanitarian principles and to advocate for the welfare of children around the world. From the outset, Martin and his staff decided to support programs that enhance the well being of children. As facilitators and strong believers in partnerships with international organizations, the private sector, local non-profits, and individuals, the Ricky Martin Foundation continues to evolve. Our voice in alliance with other sectors is committed to defend the most fragile population against modern forms of slavery and to provide them a safer world through wellness initiatives.
To further uphold our principle of social justice, in 2004 the RMF launched People for Children, a global initiative to educate, denunciate, and support the international framework for the elimination of human trafficking, especially minors. This unscrupulous market annually generates $10 billion dollars, and it’s only preceded by the trafficking of drugs and arms.
10 months ago
I would like to thank Mr. Martin for his involvement and efforts in such cause, many people don't know or too busy to know about the human trafficking and the child slavery. In a recent trip I took to the Middle East, through which I visited a number of countries in that region; one subject couldn't help to notice is the abuse that a lot of young house maids are going through. I decided to look more closely into this matter, and I started working with some of my colleagues on gathering data and documenting incidents of physical abuse. A lot of families in the Middle East have house maids who come from south east Asia, India, and the Philipene. These ladies work for a small amount of money and will work for long hours without any days off or any rights any what soever. I was choked when I traveled to the UAE and start gathering some DATA in reference to this matter, I came a cross a heart breaking case where a young African maid left her homeland to work and help her ailing father seek health attention, she worked for a "local" family who end abusing her booth physically and mentally, she was raped by their eldest son and she couldn't find any support, she was threatened of deportation and jal. I took the time to listen and document the horrible ordeal this young lady had to go through and I promised her and my self to speak about this matter, and to let the free world take another look at what so called Economical Realities, it is Human Realities for heavens sake, for that I took the time to write he story and her courage, and I am in the process of finding a publisher for my novel (story). I also documented the sex slavery in that country, and I am in the process of writing the story of a Eastern European young lady who faced a horrible ordeal and her struggle that ended in her suicide.
We as individuals must speak out for those who their voice is not heard, we should educate and inform our friends, neighbors, local society, to speak in schools, colleges, universities and raise the funds to help in the healing process.
Thank you.
Add your comment →