Celebrating Thousands of Lives Transformed in 2011

February 2011: Cebu, the Philippines – IJM attorneys secure a 20-year conviction in a trafficking case – the first of a dozen anti-trafficking convictions in the Philippines throughout the year. [Image: IJM attorney with the ruling]

April 2011: Chennai, India – More than 500 people are freed from slavery in IJM’s largest rescue operation ever. Read more> [Image: Asked “Who wants to leave?” the laborers raise their hands.]

May 2011: Nairobi, Kenya – 78-year-old Michael is freed from prison after being wrongly convicted–the first time in Kenyan history that a convicted prisoner is granted release pending appeal. Read more> [Image: Michael leaves prison.]

July 2011: Phnom Penh, Cambodia – A powerful brothel owner accused of trafficking children is arrested by the Cambodian National Police, supported by IJM. Read more> [Image: Local Khmer newspapers report on the arrest of the brothel owner]

October 2011: Chiang Mai, Thailand – In a single month, IJM Thailand helps more than 400 people secure citizenship documentation crucial to protecting them from crimes like trafficking. Read more> [Image: An IJM staff member assists hill tribe members.]

November 2011: Chennai, India – IJM launches a major advocacy campaign in India, equipping thousands to protect themselves from slavery. Read more> [Image: Street theater performers educate communities.]

December 2011: Mumbai, India–The day after receiving training from IJM, Mumbai police rescue a trafficked woman from a brothel Read more> [Image: Mumbai brothel]

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IJM is celebrating its most significant year of justice yet.  In 2011, IJM attorneys, investigators and social workers partnered with local governments to serve more people than ever before. 

2011 victories include:

• More than 1600 children, women and men were rescued from violent oppression, like sex trafficking, forced labor slavery and illegal detention.
• Nearly 1000 members of Thailand’s hill tribes received citizenship documentation critical to protecting them from trafficking and other violence.
• More than 100 traffickers, rapists and other criminals were convicted as a result of IJM casework;hundreds more were charged or faced trial.
• More than 4000 children, women and men were served by IJM aftercare.
• A dozen bars and brothels were ordered permanently shut down for trafficking crimes.

What’s next for IJM?

This year, IJM social workers, attorneys and investigators will continue the ongoing work of rescue on the frontlines in 17 communities throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America – and IJM will expand in three critical areas. 

Three Game-Changing Expansions in 2012:

• Launching Historic New Campaigns to Fight Slavery – Through the support of Google.org, IJM will lead three major NGO coalitions to free thousands of forced laborers and mobilize a new generation of anti-slavery advocates throughout India, and equip the U.S. anti-trafficking movement to make real change around the world.  (Read more)
• Starting a New Anti-Trafficking Project in a Southeast Asian Trafficking Hub – After four years of IJM work in Cebu, the Philippines, outside auditors found a stunning 79% decrease in the availability of children in the commercial sex industry.  IJM has been asked to replicate this powerful model by the government of another Southeast Asian trafficking hub and will be launching a full anti-trafficking casework center in the city. (This location is currently confidential – watch for more news later this year.)
• Defending Children in Chiang Mai, Thailand –IJM has been working in Thailand for years to  protect members of hill tribes from abuse, helping them obtain the life-changing Thai citizenship they deserve.  In 2012, IJM will begin work to protect another group: poor children, who are routinely sexually assaulted.  IJM will give these children a strong defender – taking abusers to court, providing desperately needed aftercare services for survivors of sexual violence, and seeking to transform communities, so that children are not assaulted in the first place.  

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