Modern Slavery | International Justice Mission

Modern slavery affects over 40 million people globally.

We are working with global partners to protect people from the threat of slavery, trafficking and violence.

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 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.

90% of forced labour takes place in the private economy—homes, businesses, and global supply chains.

77% of UK businesses believe there is a likelihood of slavery at some stage in their supply chain, which includes some of our most-used items like coffee, electronics, and clothing.

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

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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.

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 the largest international anti-slavery organisation in the world.

We work with local law enforcement to find and free people in slavery.

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Slavery is a Violent Crime

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.

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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