BREAKING NEWS

New MTV dramas in Egypt, India tackle female genital mutilation, sex work

By REUTERS

JULY 13, 2017 17:48

LONDON - American cable television channel MTV is launching drama series in Egypt and in India with storylines on female genital mutilation, child marriage and sex work with the aim of generating debate around issues often seen as taboo.

Both series by the Viacom-owned youth entertainment broadcaster will feature soundtracks to appeal to young audiences and popular local actors who will be trained on the issues to help stimulate debates via social media.

"We will be using gripping plots based on true stories from young people so that we can destigmatise issues, debunk unhelpful stereotypes and catalyze social change," said Georgia Arnold, head of the MTV Staying Alive Foundation.

Egypt has one of the highest rates of FGM in the world, and progress on reducing child marriage has stalled, with the practice even rising in some regions, experts say.

In India, thousands of poor young girls are forced into sex work, often by traffickers who lure them with promises of good jobs or marriage.

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