We're happy to mention once and maybe even twice that? Lexis Nexis are anti Human Trafficking through the sponsorship of a Canadian movie..
If it were more press releases on positive action being taken in Eastern Europe, parts of Africa, Central Asia etc and how they are using their wealth of legal knowledge to support NGO's on the ground to stop this terrible trade.
Instead it's more of this sort of gumph (see below) and we've decided to highlight how many times they managed to get the LN name into the piece (14)? very impressive
And the sentiments of Prozes final words to all and sundry? -- Andy Prozes said: ?I hope that our customers and our own people now see us in a different light ? as a company that has a higher purpose than those that are simply business-related, and that we are seen as a company which truly makes a difference for future generations by promoting the Rule of Law?to make the world a better place for our daughters and granddaughters.?
Even HOB doesn't have a comment for this - just silenced into submission by Lexis Nexis' absolute love of a better world..which bring us back to human rights and markets.
When will we hear a statement from Prozes about the plight of Human Rights lawyers in China.. we know we won't because China is a market of such? great import to LN . So not much of a chance? they'll? be upsetting the applecart any time in the near future and suggesting that the persecution of lawyers by any government show signs of a system not operating under the rule of law.
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LexisNexis Canada Hosts ?Holly? Movie Premiere in Toronto
by LexisNexis Canada Rule of Law Committee
On April 22, 2010, LexisNexis Canada played host to a one-night-only screening of the anti-human trafficking film ?Holly? at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. Gathered for the event was a large crowd comprised of LexisNexis leadership, employees and many external customers representing legal, government, corporate, academic and
charitable organizations.
LexisNexis, as part of its self-declared responsibility to utilize resources and expertise to support rule of law issues, has committed to getting ?Holly? promoted and seen by as many people as possible around the world via sponsored screenings of the film. It is believed that the absence of rule of law impedes economic development and relates
directly to the occurrence of human rights violations. LexisNexis? efforts in spotlighting the issue of human trafficking is one of the ways the company follows through on its commitment to support rule of law.
Following opening and welcoming remarks by Andy Prozes, CEO of LexisNexis Group, the evening began with the screening of the film. ?Holly? is about a 12-year-old Vietnamese girl who is sold into prostitution in Cambodia and follows the story of one man?s attempt to rescue her. Guy Jacobson, the producer and co-writer of the film, said the story is based
upon fact and was prompted by his real-life experience in seeing young victims being offered for sale while he was in Cambodia in 2002.
One of the attendees of the screening commented that ?the story itself, the filming and all production work were very extraordinary and touching.?
Said Jay Brecher, Content Development Associate for LexisNexis Canada,
?I was surprised how moved I was by the film - it made me want to do something immediately to address the problem of human trafficking.? ?I very much appreciated seeing
the film, Holly, last night. LexisNexis is to be congratulated for its support [against] child prostitution. A colleague of mine, who was present last evening, said never again would she use [LexisNexis competitor] Spectrum.
Right on.? Brecher continued, ?LexisNexis' role in promoting this film and championing this cause makes me proud to be an employee of LexisNexis Canada.? Following the screening of the film, a panel discussion was held to provide attendees an opportunity to hear from and ask questions of leaders in antihuman trafficking related efforts. The panel was led by LexisNexis Canada CEO Pat Collins and featured Jacobson, Rosalind Prober, and Christine Lonsdale. Prober is President and co-founder of Beyond Borders, which is the Canadian affiliate of ECPAT International. Lonsdale is a partner at the Toronto-based law firm McCarthy T?trault and is the leader of the firm?s Unaccompanied Minors Project. Jacobson regaled the crowd with his experiences in being exposed to the real-life horror of human trafficking, as well as the challenges he faced in getting the story committed to film. Panelists spoke to and took questions from the audience following the film?s screening
A lawyer and former investment banker, Jacobson has now devoted his professional life to getting the truth out about human trafficking. He is the President of Priority Films, which produced ?Holly? and the forthcoming documentary ?Redlight,? of which LexisNexis is a corporate sponsor and which the company will be promoting through upcoming premieres.
Jacobson is also founder of Redlight Children, an NGO set up to help end all forms of child exploitation.
?I thought the evening [the Toronto premiere] went extremely well,? said Jacobson. ?I have tremendous respect for LexisNexis, and find it amazing how the company and its employees are so passionately involved in helping to fight human trafficking.?
Said Jacobson after the event, ?You guys do not realize the impact you have made, the company and its people, by getting involved.?
During the panel discussion Prober spoke about Beyond Borders? efforts to address exploitation issues in Canada, to include other challenges related to but also extending beyond human trafficking. They are involved in legislative reform efforts covering such issues as age of consent, fighting child sex tourism and Internet luring, as well as addressing ways to fight child sex trafficking. Prober made note of the fact that there were many men in the audience and that it was important for them to start taking the lead in addressing ways to fight human trafficking. ?I wanted to express my appreciation to your company for presenting the film ?Holly? to us.
Your organization?s sponsorship and involvement, especially the effort and participation from top management to all levels, really impressed me. I?m truly grateful for the good work that some people and some organizations are carrying out beyond boundaries. Best regards to all of you at LexisNexis!?
Prober commented after the event that she found the event to be ?quite wonderful? and expressed her gratitude in being able to meet the LexisNexis leadership. She was particularly grateful for Human Resources Senior Vice President Robert Rigby-Hall?s call to the attendees to support a fundraising campaign by The Body Shop (wherein all proceeds from the sale of their ?Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Cream? in Canada are donated to ECPAT). Lonsdale?s presence on the panel represented one of the many ways that efforts to protect the interests of children can be undertaken. Through the McCarthy T?trault Unaccompanied Minors Program, which involves a partnership with Pro Bono Law Ontario, volunteers from the
firm are on call to be matched with a minor who may arrive alone at Toronto?s Pearson Airport. The McCarthy volunteer ensures that the minor?s interests are safeguarded through the complicated refugee claim process. Lonsdale spoke with pride about the work the Unaccompanied Minors Project takes on, and encouraged lawyers in the audience to become involved, to include helping Pro Bono Law Ontario, in any way they can. Robert Rigby-Hall encouraged the audience to find ways to get involved Following the panelist discussion, Rigby-Hall provided closing remarks which acknowledged the panelists? efforts and praised the audience for their presence and interest. Rigby-Hall encouraged everyone to become involved
beyond the evening?s events. After the event Rigby-Hall commented that ?hopefully many will feel moved enough to get engaged in a meaningful way.? ?Everyone from [our organization]
very much enjoyed the program and it went a long way to opening eyes to the horror that is happening around the globe. I am certain you will have a significant number of the audience
jumping on board to help. Kudos for a very successful program.?
LexisNexis CEO Pat Collins said that the feedback from customers and fellow employees has been tremendously positive and appreciative. ?We did a good thing and it isn?t every day we get that opportunity?I simply want everyone to know how much I appreciate everyone?s efforts.? Asked for his impressions and aspirations for the evening, Andy Prozes said: ?I hope that our customers and our own people now see us in a different light ? as a company that has a higher purpose than those that are simply business-related, and that we are seen as a company which truly makes a difference for future generations by promoting the Rule of Law?to make the world a better place for our daughters and granddaughters.?
