Modern Slavery | International Justice Mission

Modern slavery affects 50 million people around the world.

What is modern slavery?

Modern slavery goes beyond just bad working conditions. People trapped in slavery face physical, verbal and sexual abuse daily, and cannot leave to find other work or protect their families. In IJM's cases, we have met people in slavery who report being beaten, gang-raped, locked in tiny rooms, starved and even forced to witness murder.

The ILO's new estimates of the prevalence of modern slavery around the world show the urgency of addressing this issue.

Estimates indicate there are 50 million people in situations of modern slavery on any given day - this is nearly one in every 150 people in the world.

How does IJM work to stop slavery?

IJM works with global partners to protect people from modern slavery in Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Ghana, South Asia, Myanmar, Philippines, Romania and Thailand.

Learn more about how IJM combats slavery

How does IJM work?

We Strengthen Justice Systems

We collaborate with justice system and community leaders to respond effectively to forced labour slavery and violence. Together, we design improvements that serve survivors, deter criminals and dramatically decrease slavery.

Bring Victims to Safety

We partner with local authorities to bring individual victims of slavery and violence to safety, and support survivors with trauma-informed aftercare as they rebuild their lives.
Over 85,000 people have been brought to safety by authorities in partnership with IJM and partners.

Bring Criminals to Justice

We work alongside justice system officials to ensure that criminals are held accountable, stopping the cycle of slavery and violence and deterring others from abusing vulnerable people.

Scale Demand for Protection

We convene and equip champions to advocate for protection as an essential and tangible future for everyone.

Phase 1: Casework

IJM and our partners begin by pursuing justice in individual cases of slavery and violence, collaborating with local authorities to:

Investigate slavery and violence and relieve victims from abuse.
Hold criminals accountable for their crimes in court.
Serve survivors through aftercare programs and support them through the legal process.

Phase 2: Sustainable Protection

Building on our relationships with local officials and experience guiding cases through the justice system, IJM and our partners collaborate with local authorities to:

Strengthen their capacity to proactively identify slavery and violence and enforce laws.
Move cases through the legal process more efficiently and effectively.
Ensure justice systems and social services serve survivors of trauma with sensitivity and are shaped by survivors’ experiences.

Modern Slavery: Hear From Survivors

Maarko* was a 7-year-old boy sexually abused on live internet video—a crime called online sexual exploitation of children.

He dreamed of being like his hero Superman, but had no way out. Maarko was rescued from online sexual exploitation of children through the efforts of IJM and his abusers have been prosecuted.

Gowri wanted to support her children and pay their bills, so she took out a loan from a corrupt factory owner.

The owner continually increased the loan, violently forcing her family to continue working long hours for him - a form of modern slavery. After nearly 10 years, IJM was able to send rescue.

Modern slavery and trafficking at a glance

1 in 130 women and girls are living in slavery today.

Women and girls around the world are disproportionately victims of exploitation and modern slavery. [1] Walk Free, Stacked Odds Report, 2020

1 in 4 victims of modern slavery are children.

Children are vulnerable to some of the worst forms of modern-day slavery like being trafficked into forced labour on farms and fishing boats, and into the online sexual exploitation of children.

[2] ILO Global Estimates of Slavery, 2022

86% of forced labour takes place in the private economy—homes, businesses, and global supply chains.

Some of our most-used items like coffee, electronics, and clothing are likely to be affected by slavery. In fact, as many as 77% of UK businesses believe there is a likelihood of slavery at some stage in their supply chain.

[3] Ethical Trading Initiative, 2018

Everyone trapped in modern slavery is a person with a name, a story and a dream.

Read Stories >>

Foli* was a young boy forced to work 19-hour days on his uncle’s fishing boat.

He prayed to God for safety and a chance to escape. After the local police freed him, he was able to go to school and play football again.

Elsa* was deceived and forced into a life of prostitution.

After losing her parents at 12 years old, Elsa was determined to find work and support her brothers. A local bar owner offered her a job, but it was a trap. For years, she faced countless nights of sexual exploitation. Thanks to supporters like you, we were able to free Elsa and bring her to safety.

Modern Slavery is Prevalent Across the World

Source: Global Slavery Index, 2016

IJM is one of the largest international anti-slavery organisations in the world.

We work with local law enforcement to find and bring to freedom people who are trapped in slavery.

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Where does slavery happen?

Internet

Brick Kilns

Brothels

Fishing Boats

Tree Cutting Facilities

Quarries and Mines

Sweets Factories

Rice Mills

We can stop stories like these from happening.

All around the world, people in modern slavery are trapped by people who believe that making money matters more than a person’s life. Driven by greed and overlooked by their local legal system, abusers take advantage of desperation and vulnerability to make a profit. We believe these exploiters shouldn’t be allowed to win.

International Justice Mission is an organised group of advocates, donors, investigators, social workers and lawyers. Our proven model stops modern day slavery in its tracks. See here for impact.

At IJM, we work with local governments to bring people in modern slavery to safety and prosecute their oppressors. We work to transform justice systems so that slave owners are held to account and to disrupt the business model that makes slavery possible. This involves prosecuting the perpetrators and dramatically increasing the legal, financial and opportunity costs modern-slavery oppressors must pay to sustain a slave-labour model.

If we don’t disrupt the model, these perpetrators will expand their power and brutalise more people. But the world is changing. Modern slavery can end in our lifetime. Our model works. With your help, we can prosecute the exploiters and traffickers, bring freedom to people who are trapped and prove to the world that every person should be free.

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