I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
–MOTHER TERESA “
No matter where we come from, there’s one mission we can all agree on: THAT EVERYONE SHOULD LIVE IN FREEDOM.
United by this ideal, International Justice Mission brings together people from all nations, backgrounds and perspectives to rescue victims, bring criminals to justice, restore survivors to safety and strength, and help local law enforcement build a safe future that lasts.
TOGETHER, WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS OUR VISION TO RESCUE MILLIONS, PROTECT HALF A BILLION AND MAKE JUSTICE UNSTOPPABLE.
A letter from our CEO
ANU GEORGE CANJANATHOPPIL
Over the past year, we’ve seen greater impact than I could have imagined. I continue to receive story after story of your life-changing impact. Through your prayers, advocacy and financial support, hope is springing anew in areas where fear and oppression proliferated. I thank you for your dedicated partnership.
My heart is overjoyed to see progress in my homeland of South Asia where I first worked in addressing bonded labour slavery and where IJM helped the Tamil Nadu government achieve an 82% relative reduction in the prevalence of bonded labour. You’ll read how an entire village once enslaved now thrives in freedom. It’s incredible to witness the social and behaviour change of leaders and community members turning toward justice—a true revolution.
Similar changes are reverberating in communities throughout the world.
In El Salvador, attorney Elías Ramirez has advocated for dozens of women unable to afford legal representation, including Rebeca, a survivor of intimate partner violence. “My
experience ... was very satisfying because of the bond created with the survivor,” says Elías. “[It] moves you to commit yourself to do your best to pursue justice. In [Rebeca’s] case, we made it!”
Behind every achievement stands a community of committed, sacrificial individuals. I am unimaginably proud of the thousands of Canadians, like you, who show up for the oppressed each and every month. Thank you.
There’s power in thousands of voices like yours, joining as one in a deafening roar for justice. We will not stop until every child, woman and man lives in safety, dignity and independence.
Until all are free,
Anu George Canjanathoppil Chief Executive Officer IJM Canada
Working together: a successful model
Numbers help us measure progress and demonstrate the scale of our impact, but they are just the beginning of the story. Behind every number is a real person whose life has been transformed because of a person like you.
82% Reduction in Bonded Labour in Tamil Nadu through IJM’s Partnership with Government
Since 2001, IJM has worked with the government in India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu to combat bonded labour. Hundreds of thousands of children, women and men have been protected from abuse and exploitation and are now free to pursue life on their own terms.
This progress is documented in a third-party, end-of-program evaluation of IJM’s work in Tamil Nadu. Released in March 2022 with assistance from external firms ASK Training & Learning and Praxis, the study engaged 10,519 respondents.
According to this rigorous assessment, IJM’s partnership with the government in Tamil Nadu has helped reduce the number of people in the state held in bonded labour by 82%, which equates to nearly 400,000 children, women and men protected from slavery.
This progress has been enabled by IJM’s efforts to build the capacity of law enforcement officers to recognize trafficking, bring relief to victims and prosecute criminals. Once hesitant to act, police in the state now regularly report incidents of bonded labour within 24 hours.
Momentum continues to grow in Tamil Nadu with survivors learning to advocate for people trapped in bondage. With IJM’s support, the Released Bonded Labourers’ Association has trained more than 2,000 survivors of human trafficking to work for justice. The network has helped facilitate the release of over 250 labourers, secured government entitlements and education for survivors and fostered partnerships for community development.
Rising from the Ashes
When Kasthuri and Venkatesh’s daughter got married, they borrowed 95,000 rupees— about CA$1,560—from a brick producer for the wedding. Their joy soon turned to sorrow when the kiln owner made them labour 17 hours a day to repay the loan. Adding to their distress, the man required their 9-year-old son, Shakthivel, to help with the backbreaking work.
After four years of oppression and violent threats, the family was rescued by local law enforcement in partnership with IJM. Kasthuri and Venkatesh soon returned to their home village to rebuild their lives. But it wasn’t as easy as just picking up where they left off. The family’s house had collapsed in their absence, and they lived in constant fear of repercussions from the kiln owner.
IJM walked alongside Kasthuri, Venkatesh and Shakthivel through its two-year aftercare program. The initiative helped Venkatesh secure work as a woodcutter and assisted the family in accessing government help to build a new home. Their IJM case worker helped them enroll Shakthivel in school.
“Now that I am free, I want my children to be educated,” says Kasthuri. “Once they learn to read, they will be free forever!”
Venkatesh and Kasthuri ... never lost hope. ... Kasthuri has reignited her leadership qualities after being rescued from a life of bondage. … Venkatesh and Kasthuri [have evolved] from survivors to leaders.”
–IJM CASEWORKER
Three years after their rescue, Kasthuri and Venkatesh are thriving—not only enjoying their own freedom, but also working to protect others. Kasthuri has launched a group that promotes economic independence for women. She also helped rescue another family from a brick kiln and is now walking alongside them in their recovery.
“Venkatesh and Kasthuri … never lost hope,” says the family’s IJM case manager. “[Like a phoenix rising from the ashes], Kasthuri has reignited her leadership qualities after being rescued from a life of bondage. … Venkatesh and Kasthuri [have evolved] from survivors to leaders.”
Leveraging local expertise
It is only through the dedicated efforts of our implementing partners that IJM can continue and scale our work to bring justice to the most vulnerable people. Former defence attorney Elías Ramirez leveraged training from IJM ally the Salvadoran Association for Rural Health to leave his work as a defence lawyer and advocate for abuse survivors.
The Path to Justice
“It’s pretty unusual to find a lawyer like me representing girls in El Salvador,” says Elías Ramirez.
But because this one attorney decided to follow justice and represent survivors of abuse, eight courageous young women—and counting—have been empowered to speak out against their perpetrators in court.
Although women and children comprise more than three out of four victims of violence, they rarely pursue justice because they are unable to afford legal assistance. Faced with this reality, Elías served as a defence attorney for years, often forced to represent the perpetrators of such crimes.
All that changed in 2020, when he received an offer to work with the Salvadoran Association for Rural Health (ASAPROSAR), a local IJM partner providing legal services for victims of violence. Elías began taking on the cases of women and children, sitting on the opposite side in court, and soon discovered the tremendous obstacles faced by underprivileged women.
“They often have to make incredibly difficult decisions,” he explains. “’Do I pay the attorney’s fees, miss work and lose my wages to attend a hearing, or do I pay rent and school fees and buy food?’”
Over the next two years, Elías prosecuted eight cases for ASAPROSAR with IJM staff providing mentorship during the most complex trials.
All cases affected him, but one client stands out: Rebeca,* who was nearly strangled to death by an estranged boyfriend. Dragged to a remote field and left for dead, Rebeca revived two hours later, walked to safety and enlisted the help of soldiers to reach the nearest police station.
As a survivor of extreme violence, Rebeca faced many challenges to testify, including facing the perpetrator in court. Coached by IJM and ASAPROSAR, Elías helped her prepare for the defence team’s examination. When she was interrogated by her former boyfriend in the last phase of the trial, a practice permitted in El Salvadorean courts, she was ready. The hearing lasted almost 12 hours, but it was all worth it when the judge handed down a 15-year sentence.
Each victory has fueled Elías’s determination to pave the path to justice for those unable to advocate for themselves. When the pilot project between ASAPROSAR and IJM drew to a close in 2022, Elías committed himself to continuing to advocate for women and serving as a champion for change in the justice system.
“My experience [with ASAPROSAR and IJM] was very satisfying because of the bond created with the survivor,” says Elias. “[It] moves you to commit yourself to do your best to pursue justice. In [Rebeca’s] case, we made it!”
My experience [with Salvadoran Association for Rural Health and IJM] was very satisfying because of the bond created with the survivor. … [It] moves you to commit yourself to do your best to pursue justice.”
–ELÍAS RAMIREZ, IJM PARTNER PROSECUTOR, EL SALVADOR
Leading from experience
Through the support of our Freedom Partner community, IJM and its partners are creating hope-filled futures for people throughout the world— in this case, an entire village!
From Victim to Village Head
Mallaiah was only 8 years old when he joined his parents and grandparents on a fishing boat for the first time. On that fateful day, he had no idea that the next eight years would be spent in bonded labour—or that his family had been trapped this way for decades.
In fact, their whole village of Amaragiri had been exploited for generations in the fishing industry. Originally from the Chenchu tribal community in the nearby forests, Mallaiah’s grandparents were pushed out to the riverbanks when the government constructed a dam and passed new environmental protection laws.
Unfamiliar with their new environment, Mallaiah’s grandparents and dozens of others fell prey to wealthy local businessmen who promised to teach them fishing. These men provided boats and nets and generous loans to get the families started, but then demanded to buy all their fish at a set price so they could resell the catch for a profit. From there, they ensnared the families in cycles of debt bondage amid constant threats of physical and verbal abuse.
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As a Global Survivor Network leader … I want [other survivors] to experience the freedom I experience now so that they too can become leaders in their community.”
–MALLAIAH, DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF AMARAGIRI AND GSN SURVIVOR LEADER
Then in 2016, when Mallaiah was 16, IJM partner the Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) began investigating the local fishing industry for child labour. Much to their surprise, they found that the dozens of boys and girls working on boats were just the tip of the iceberg: The whole village was trapped.
FSD and IJM asked the local government to free the families. Reluctant at first, authorities eventually gathered more than 100 fishers in the town to hear their stories, freed the entire group and provided them with Release Certificates, absolving them of their false debts.
After the rescue, FSD helped Mallaiah pursue his education and provided occasions to develop leadership skills, including inviting him to speak with government officials and participating in rescue operations.
“We observed that he had the potential to be a leader, and so we gave him exposure opportunities,” says one FSD staff member.
Two years after the rescue, at age 18, Mallaiah was elected deputy president of the village. In that role, he has helped his community advocate for government benefits and secured approval to construct a CA$55,000 fish-processing unit, where the community can store and sort their catch, then package and transport it to markets without involving abusive middlemen.
He also serves as a member of IJM’s Global Survivor Network Leadership Council: “As a GSN leader … I want [other survivors] to experience the freedom I experience now so that they too can become leaders in their community.”
Making a difference behind the scenes
Our supporters and volunteers make our work possible. In a very real way, we couldn’t do it without you, our global Freedom Partner community!
A Lifelong Commitment to Fighting Justice Continues through a Partnership with IJM
Barb Hild was in law enforcement for a few years – but not how you might imagine. She didn’t wear a badge or pursue criminals in high-speed chases. But her diligent work as a research librarian for law enforcement in Calgary helped keep her community safe by supporting crime prevention work with youth and families, and law enforcement on issues such as drug trafficking, gangs and other forms of violence.
Barb is now retired but she continues this lifetransforming work as an IJM Freedom Partner.
“I am not in a position to physically be on the streets to help those in need, but I can financially support those who do,” she says.
Barb joined with IJM nearly 20 years ago when she heard an IJM speaker at her church. From her work in law enforcement and her compassion for those needing protection, she understood the deeply destructive impact of human trafficking and longed for a response that addressed not only the plight of victims but also the need for justice and transformation in the community. She saw in IJM a capable partner and immediately committed to monthly donations.
“(Monthly giving) provides resources that IJM can depend on throughout the year … and the needed stability to make plans for future rescue missions,” she says.
“
I am not in a position to physically be on the streets to help those in need, but I can financially support those who do.”
–BARB HILD, FREEDOM PARTNER
FREEDOM PARTNER TESTIMONIAL
“My husband and I want to teach our children that it’s possible to put our faith into action to make a longterm difference in the world. We felt the best way to demonstrate that kind of lasting impact was to support International Justice Mission in a deeper way. We became Freedom Partners and are grateful to know our gifts are helping make communities around the world safer for children and families at risk of violence, month after month, all year long.”
–THE HIMES
FAMILY
To all of our committed Freedom Partners like you, who help bring freedom and justice to people around the world, thank you!
Spreading the news
We’re training journalists in Ghana to protect vulnerable people and champion the cause of justice. You can spread the word too!
Young Ghanaian Journalists Recognized for Advocacy Efforts
On August 24, 2023, IJM’s Young Journalists Fellowship Program honoured Philip Teye Agbove of the Ghana News Agency as Outstanding Justice Advocate. “Awards and recognitions can only propel us to dig deeper and push harder in our quest to make a greater impact,” said Mr. Agbove, adding that the fight against human trafficking should be shared by all sectors of society.
The ceremony recognized the graduation of 16 journalists who received training from IJM in a variety of critical topics, such as crossborder trafficking, stakeholder collaboration and the use of digital tools for media campaigns.
Participants have gone on to publish articles in radio and print, including stories on IJM Ghana’s five survivor networks, our aftercare program, advocacy efforts and much more.
In her remarks, IJM Ghana Country Director Anita Budu emphasized the necessity for all stakeholders, including the media, to rally together to eradicate human trafficking. In particular, she stressed the importance of robust partnerships and thorough investigations to destroy trafficking networks.
Mr. Agbove and his fellow graduates provide a beacon of hope, illustrating the vital role of informed journalists in tackling human trafficking. Each one plays a critical role in fostering a safer, more just society.
There is no doubt that with collective effort [human trafficking can] be dealt with and reduced to the barest minimum, if not completely eradicated.” “
–ANITA BUDU,
IJM GHANA COUNTRY DIRECTOR,
SPEAKING AT THE YOUNG JOURNALISTS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM GRADUATION
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