With a photo exhibition in the Vijverpark, the municipality of Brunssum wants to draw attention to human trafficking, which, according to the municipality, is still too often invisible nowadays.
The photo exhibition ‘Open your Eyes’ shows 30 portraits and penetrating stories of victims of human trafficking.
Portraits speak volumes
Only the eyes of the victims can be seen in the portraits. The photos were taken by photographer Ernst Coppejans and portray the seriousness and diversity of human trafficking in the Netherlands. “They speak volumes when you look at them,” says Mayor Wilma van Rijt. “If you read the stories, you see what it does to people if they are not treated with respect in our society.”
Invisible around us
The mayor hopes that this photo exhibition will allow people to look more closely at and identify their surroundings. “It’s not exotic, it’s not unique. It’s here in Brunssum, all around us. But it’s invisible around us.”
The exhibition can be viewed in the Vijver Park until 13 April. “Look at this exhibition with your eyes open and let it come in. That’s all I ask,” concludes the mayor.