EMCLI paramter have an escape character?

Using EMCLI to perform the set_metric_promotion verb is causing errors.  The problem is that when using the -depTargetKeyValues parameter to establish name:value pairs...the values I have to use have a ';' incorporated into them.  This confuses emcli and causes it think that is the end of the name:value pair.  Is there a way to avoid this without modifying my value?  An escape character or another syntax that will allow me to have a setup like this:
-depTargetKeyValues="name1:value1;2 name2:...value1;2..."

The value1;2 is actually one single entity that I must pass in.  Thank you in advance.