Russian Pop Star and IOM Goodwill Envoy Valeriya is set to release her new track "Back to Love", which details the story of a victim of human trafficking, on 20 April in the United Kingdom,

The idea for this song began to materialize last August when IOM named Valeriya its Goodwill Envoy in the Russian Federation. At that time she also received a medal from IOM’s Director General in recognition of her work with IOM on counter-trafficking issues in Russia, which began in 2007.

Valeriya is the first Russian celebrity to dedicate her time and international fame to raise awareness of the plight of victims of trafficking. The sale of her latest album (250,000 CDs to date) has been an effective vehicle for the dissemination counter trafficking messages.

Back to Love will be included in Valeriya’s 2009 European tour.

"Artists speak the universal language of emotions and feelings, and that is why we are able to garner the attention of the general public on crucial social issues, such as human trafficking. Music and entertainment are powerful tools to put an end to indifference and generate positive changes worldwide. With support from organizations like IOM, artists can change public perceptions of human trafficking, stop human rights violations and save many human lives," explains Valeriya.

Valeriya’s own experience of physical violence in her previous marriage, of which she has openly spoken, has made Valeriya a powerful ally for IOM’s work worldwide to combat human trafficking.

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