International Justice Mission

In the fight against trafficking of humans there are many good ministries and organizations. Hope Marketplace likes to highlight organizations and the work they’re doing- nationally and internationally. Most recently we highlighted Thistle Farms, a domestic organization whose merchandise we sell. This time we’d like to bring to your attention International Justice Mission (IJM) based in Washington D.C.

“International Justice Mission (IJM) is a human rights agency that brings rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local officials to secure immediate victim rescue and aftercare, to prosecute perpetrators and to ensure that public justice systems - police, courts and laws - effectively protect the poor.”


The work of IJM has been given great recognition and is regularly featured in the news. Just within the past few weeks there are separate reports of raiding brothels, rice mills and brick factories where people were kept as slaves. Their website tells many stories that are happening right now and the work they are doing to collaborate with local officials to bring freedom and justice to victims.


I encourage you to look at their site- it has good resources and lots of pictures and video to help put a face on the statistics. Here are two I would recommend:
This recently published report gives clear examples of girls in Cambodia who think they will be taking legitimate jobs only to find themselves prostituted under physical threat. Click on this picture of the brothel where they were kept to read the story.



The following video aired a few years ago but is still relevant and truly shocking. If you question whether it's true that children are enslaved in the sex industry you’ll have to see it for yourself. Dateline tagged along on an IJM-led raid of a brothel in Cambodia. The images of freedom are moving, making the remembrance of those still enslaved that much more heartbreaking.

VIDEO: "Children for Sale" Dateline NBC


We hope you’ll join us in supporting IJM. Check out their website and consider donating to them and their work around the world. They also are looking for more prayer partners- an important part in God’s blessing their efforts. They are doing tremendous work and giving what we at Hope Marketplace desire for all people suffering under human trafficking... hope.