Stop the Traffik Wins New Media Award

Stop the Traffik was recognised for its innovative use of new media at the New Stateman's New Media Awards 2007, held in Westminster Abbey College Gardens on Tuesday.

The global anti-trafficking coalition beat both Intelligent Giving and Oxfam to win the Advocacy Award category, recognised as the organisation "that has most effectively influenced opinions and behaviour through the use of new media technology".

Stop the Traffik works to expose the little-known trade of people trafficking and encourage governments worldwide to take action.

The New Statesman Awards aim to recognise organisations that both realise the potential of new media technology and have the commitment and stamina to effectively execute their ideas.

The Stop theTraffik website has been used to educate and advocate on the subject of people trafficking, drawing together a coalition of members around the world which now numbers more than 800 groups in 50 countries.

To facilitate this global growth, parts of the site have been translated into 20 languages, from widely spoken tongues like Chinese and Russian, to less widely spoken languages of Khmer, Igbo and Lithuanian.

Stop the Traffik also uses new media to provide downloadable films and resources, as well as running Myspace and Face Book links and viral films seeded on the web.

A New Statesman spokesperson paid tribute to the effectiveness of Stop the Traffik's use of new media, particularly the coalition's website for its clear design and "excellent information architecture".

New Statesman said it liked the website because it enabled visitors to quickly get to grips with the subject matter and how it is affecting people across the globe, as well as discover how they can make a difference.

"The judges thought the site was very well thought out and an excellent example of how to use digital media as a tool for advocacy, campaigning and education," added the spokesperson.