“THE FIGHTERS”: NEW FEATURE-LENGTH CNN FREEDOM PROJECT DOCUMENTARY
HUMAN RIGHTS PIONEER CECILIA FLORES-OEBANDA, BOXER MANNY PACQUIAO
JOIN THE BATTLE AGAINST MODERN-DAY SLAVERY IN THE PHILIPPINES
Now available to view in full online: www.cnn.com/thefighters
Watch and please share.

Following a two-year CNN investigation, the two-hour documentary The Fighters chronicles Philippine
human rights pioneer Cecilia Flores-Oebanda in her journey to protect children from the sex trade and
convince the Philippines' biggest star, Manny Pacquiao, to join her as a fighter in the battle against
modern-day slavery.

It's estimated more than 100,000 children work in the sex trade in the Philippines. Since founding her
anti-trafficking organization, Visayan Forum, in 1991, Cecilia Flores-Oebanda has helped more than
70,000 victims or potential victims of human trafficking. She believes if Pacquiao, an elected
congressman in the Philippines and the country’s biggest star, champions her cause, it could mean a
turning point.

But just when it begins to look like she's winning, allegations of fraud and missing funds threaten to ruin
her life's work as she is forced to change her focus from saving children to saving the organization she
set up to help them.

“The Fighters is a remarkable film that represents the very core of the CNN Freedom Project, namely a
desire to shine a spotlight into the darkness of human trafficking and to champion those who have
dedicated their lives to ending it,” said Tony Maddox, executive vice president and managing director
for CNN International.

“This documentary also represents a formidable journalistic achievement, the culmination of more than
two years of tenacious, tireless reporting. I salute those who have brought it to our screens and, with it,
discussion on this critical issue into millions of homes around the world,” he added.

Airing on CNN International on two consecutive nights beginning in May, The Fighters provides a unique
glimpse into the world of combating human trafficking through the eyes of those risking their lives so that
others may live theirs in freedom. It explores themes of social justice and globalization, as well as
offering insight into both the benefits and drawbacks inherent in governmental-charity-celebrity
partnerships.

‘The Fighters’ is produced and narrated by Leif Coorlim, executive editor of the CNN Freedom Project.

Related links
The CNN Freedom Project blog - http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/
The CNN Freedom Project on Twitter - http://twitter.com/cnnfreedom
The CNN Freedom Project via Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/CNNFreedom
For more information, please contact:
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Ingrid Hsu- [email protected]; +852.3128.3568
EMEA: Joel Brown – [email protected]; +44.207.693.0967
U.S.: Jennifer Dargan – [email protected]; +1.404.885.4638