Former Dow Chemical Executive Brings 35 Years of Corporate Experience to the Battle Against Modern-Day Slavery and Violent Oppression

WASHINGTON, DC — Gary Veurink, former Dow Chemical Corporate Vice President, has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of International Justice Mission (IJM). Mr. Veurink will report to CEO Gary Haugen and will be responsible for the day-to-day oversight of IJM’s Business Operations Division and for leading the charge to achieve IJM’s ambitious 10-year vision.

The September 17 and October 8, 2009, editions of The Nation included articles by freelance writer Noy Thrupkaew which addressed the issue of child sexual exploitation. The first article focused on IJM’s early efforts, dating as far back as 2003, to combat the issue in Southeast Asia. The writer’s criticism is almost entirely based on events in 2003, much of it inaccurate. She missed altogether major developments in the anti-trafficking field since then. Today, virtually every credible anti-trafficking organization – including UN agencies, NGO’s, and responsible governments – knows that children and forced adults have no place in the sex industry. In more than 10 years of experience on the frontlines of this field, IJM has found that effective policing can be done without infringing on the rights of adult women voluntarily engaging in commercial sex.

In theory, everyone – except for pedophiles, brothel owners, and pimps – agrees that children must not be in the sex industry and that those who prey on them should be prosecuted and punished. Virtually every country in the world has adopted national laws prohibiting the commercial sexual exploitation of children. International law is clear on this point, as well. The International Convention on the Rights of the Child requires States Parties to protect children from all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, and prevent sex trafficking, pornography, and other unlawful sexual practices.