International Justice Mission
PO Box 336 STN B N6A 4W1 London, ON, Canada

When Kashi* told us her story, we were amazed by her bravery and willingness to share. Take a moment today to watch Kashi’s incredible storynarrated in her own words and in her own voice! https://buff.ly/3778RbB *A pseudonym

RESCUE - IJM supported local officials and our casework partners to rescue a small 13-year-old boy who had been trapped in bonded labour slavery for the last three years. After a heartbreaking journey, he has finally been reunited with his mother, who for years thought he had died. When one of IJM’s grassroots partners discovered the boy working he had been forced to sleep outside with the animals, only given one small meal each day, and had suffered intense verbal, physical ...and emotional abuse. The organization contacted Social Health and Education Development (SHED)another NGO IJM has trainedand together we planned how to free Rahul*. Going forward, he will be supported by SHED and the government’s Child Welfare Committee to ensure he stays safe and can heal from the abuse. Local officials are also filing complaints against the farm owners who enslaved him, and we hope to see them held accountable so they cannot abuse other children again. *A pseudonym. Stock image, not a victim of trafficking.

Meet Meetee. One of the 24,085 people IJM Chiang Mai helped in getting their government ID card. Meetee was 49 years old when she was approved for citizenship, but by her 79th birthday, her ID card had still not arrived. She is a member of the Akha hill tribe, an ethnic minority whose people are not officially considered Thai citizens. Because the Akha people have a distinct language and culture, Meetee is unable to speak or read Thai, leaving her vulnerable to exploitation a...nd abuse. Every time she visited district offices and government officials; her name was never on the list of people who would receive their official identification. IJM first heard about Meetee’s case through word-of-mouth and began advocating for her, organizing her documents, bringing her to meetings and speaking to authorities on her behalf. Finally, after decades of waiting, Meetee got the call; her official ID card was ready! Because you kept us by Meetee’s side, she is finally recognized as a lawful citizen by her government, and the rights and protections she has been waiting for are finally hers.

After 20 years of faithful effort, the IJM Chiang Mai office is passing its work to the empowered network of government leaders, community networks and NGO partners they have worked closely with for years. The IJM Chiang Mai team worked passionately and tirelessly in Northern Thailand to protect people in poverty from violence by fighting for legal status rights for citizens as well as fighting against commercial sexual exploitation and child sexual assault. Since the program... began, the team secured legal status documentation for 24,085 people, in addition to rescuing 233 victims from commercial sexual exploitation and child sexual assault and securing 86 convictions. They also trained 17,760 people in combatting statelessness, activated 42 partners, achieved several legal and policy changes, and built 4 Local Community Networks made up of 329 volunteers who will continue advocate for and work with the government to achieve legal status for their own people. The Chiang Mai team leaves an incredible legacy of people who have been rescued, restored, and protected through legal status. Taking up the mantel of citizenship rights work is a thriving network of volunteers who will continue supporting the government to protect people who are vulnerable. The government is equipped, taking ownership, and collaboratively engaging with NGO's and local communities on both child sexual assault and legal status work because of the IJM Chiang Mai team’s efforts.

IJM's first field office was established in South Asia in 2000 and we continue to work alongside local authorities and partners to end sex trafficking. Another office - which assisted police in the operation that freed Kashi* from a brothel in South Asia - opened in 2006. With promising results to date and the reduction of the number of children being made available for sex in brothels, we are committed to ending this brutal trade in human lives. You can stand with us and h...elp give freedom to more children like Kashi. Read her story here: https://buff.ly/2JDBhC1 *A pseudonym

Today, on World Children's Day, we are reminded that ALL children should be loved, cared for and protected. We are so thankful for all who partner with us to bring freedom and restoration to children who are trapped in violence and abuse. Thank you for standing with us #untilallarefree

Six girls are now FREE from cybersex trafficking after being rescued by Philippine authorities! This rescue happened just days after they rescued four other children, showing their determination that lockdowns will not stop them from fighting to end the online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC). One suspect was also arrested during the operation. Now, the young women, who are between the ages of 12 and 19, are receiving the dedicated care needed for restoration. This oper...ation is another example of law enforcement agencies from around the world coming together to combat cybersex trafficking and send rescue. Often, Philippine authorities receive tips from foreign law enforcement counterparts, where, in their own countries, they can identify or arrest their citizen who abuse Filipino children online. Philippine authorities then use the information to rescue the children and make arrests. IJM is committed to continue supporting law enforcers, social workers, judiciary and others who are in the front line in the fight against this deplorable crime. - Atty. Lucille Dejito, Cebu Field Office Director

When Kashi* told us her story, we were amazed by her bravery and willingness to share. Take a moment today to watch Kashi’s incredible storynarrated in her own words and in her own voice!

Victoria is a silence breaker. Victoria is a survivor. Victoria is a founding member of the Global Survivor Network. "When survivors are at the table where decisions are made, change happens." - Victoria Nyanyjura... She is a women’s rights advocate and founder of Women in Action for Women. She is a survivor of Lord’s Resistance Army abductions and has shared her story and amplified the stories of other survivors from local, national and international platforms. She is a member of the Leadership Council for the Global Survivor Network.

We are thrilled to tell you about the Global Survivor Network, an international group of survivor leaders who desire and pursue safe communities through justice systems that protect the most vulnerable. In the global fight to end unchecked violence against people in poverty, survivors have the best understanding of the problem and the solution. A survivor-led movement will change the world. Members of the GSN are survivors of slavery, violence against women and children, and... other forms of abuse. These survivors are speaking out as leaders and advocating for change in their communities. We're excited to share more about these incredible survivor-leaders in future GSN spotlights.

Kim* was 12 years old, living in poverty, and vulnerable to the lies of criminals whose only aim was to prey on and exploit her. Criminals like AJ*. AJ promised to put Kim in school and give her a job if she moved to Manila with him. At first, nothing seemed wrong. A few months later Kim’s exploitation began, when AJ took a nude photo of herwhich turned into sexual abuse streamed over the internet, across the world. ... Kim endured the unimaginable pain of cybersex trafficking and sexual abuse for three years, but one night, when AJ brought Kim to a hotel, law enforcement officers and IJM social workers arrived. Kim was free and AJ was arrested. With lockdowns driving people online, authorities have marked a rise in this kind of exploitation. With your help, more children will be protected. I am so happy now, Kim says. I am so filled with hope. I just want to say thank you. Don’t give up. Keep fighting. Read more of Kim’s story of hope: https://www.ijm.ca/stories/kim *A pseudonym

Freedom from slavery and violence means being able to relax, laugh and enjoy a healthy meal with friends and family in peace. Your support makes this possible. From all of us at IJM Canada, thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!

Four children, ages 6,9, 10 and 17, have been rescued from cybersex trafficking in the Philippines during a rescue operation led by the Philippine National Police - Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC). They are now receiving the aftercare needed for their restoration. This is a powerful testament to the dedication of the PNP-WCPC to stopping the online sexual exploitation of children.... As a result of their unfaltering commitment, four children are now safe, and their alleged perpetrator has been arrested and will no longer be able to abuse children again. One can truly admire the men and women of WCPC who are real-life heroes doing their sworn duty going above and beyond all challenges, thus achieving more protection to our children in the communities during this time of lockdown, said Atty. Rey Bicol, Field Officer Director of IJM Manila.

Hope is paramount to a #cybersextrafficking survivor's journey to restoration. And the Consuelo Foundation, in collaboration with IJM, has been able to bring that hope to 166 survivor families during the global pandemic. Because of this collaboration, the everyday needs of survivors, such as groceries and medicines, have been met. To survivors, this is more than a gift; it is an outstretched hand pulling them up to see a light in the dark. The Consuelo Foundation desired to give more than a financial gift to survivors but also a light of hope that they can carry on. The many letters received from the OSEC survivors who were beneficiaries demonstrate that their goal is being accomplished, and a beacon of hope has been lit. - National Director of IJM Philippines Attorney Sam Inocencio

Dressember Canada 2020 has officially launched! Last year Dressember Canada advocates raised over $225,000 - enough for 28 complete rescue operations, and we can't wait to see what we can do together this year! We invite you to join the movement and fight back against human trafficking. It's easy!... Commit to wearing a dress or tie every day of December Create your fundraising page Set your goal Change the world Learn more and register at dressember.ca

Today is the last day to become a Freedom Partner with the opportunity of your monthly gifts doubled up to $500,000 for an entire year. Before midnight tonight, you can become a Freedom Partner and join the movement to rescue every child, woman and man still trapped in violence and slavery. Together, we can reach the most vulnerable when they need it most. Become a Freedom Partner todayand double your impact up to $500,000 for a year! Sign up now: https://buff.ly/34YrP4T

Many victims, like those rescued from forced labour slavery in India, are left to start over with just a change of clothes. But we’re able to provide them with so much more than that. Through our two-year aftercare program for these bonded labour survivors in India, each survivor receives an individual plan that addresses their physical and trauma-care needs. Want a behind-the-scenes look at an IJM rescue? Journey with us to the fourth and final stage of an Anatomy of a Rescue: The Restoration. Read more at https://www.ijm.ca/anatomy-rescue

Alice, a mother of three, was violently attacked by her partner of 10 years after she asked him for money to buy food for their children. This was not the first time he had been violent towards her, but this time she reported him. IJM supported her through the prosecution, and the man who abused her pleaded guilty. Now, Alice is able to take care of her children on her own, and her focus is on building a good future. IJM helped her get a job at a local dairy, and she’s teachi...ng her children what she believes a relationship between a man and woman should look like. In Northern Uganda, where Alice grew up, nearly 95.9% of women surveyed reported that violence against women and girls is happening in their communities (according to an IJM- UNDP report in 2019) There will be a time when men will stop beating up their wives, she said. I see a future where men come to learn that even women have rights.