Every day, these five families were forced to chop down trees and brush in an isolated rural area for the profit of a cruel, local businessman. An initial loan of 10,000 rupees ($135 USD) became a debt that trapped some of them for almost five years, until IJM and local authorities rescued them this month.
For the past few years, we’ve joined thousands of advocates taking a visible stand against human trafficking in a very unique opportunity: the Dressember Challenge. These dedicated teams of supporters commit to wearing a dress or tie every day in December (even on Zoom!) in order to raise funds and awareness to rescue women and children trapped in slavery.
IJM assisted local authorities and our partner NGO Freedom Firm in rescuing two minor girls from sex trafficking and arresting two suspects involved in the case. These types of agile partnerships are helping to ensure more and more victims are freed from trafficking every year.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the enforced nationwide curfew in Kenya resulted in an outbreak of police brutality, with 15 people killed by officers during the first nine weeks of curfew alone. IJM Kenya has joined three other rights groups in launching a lawsuit to hold the police accountable. “We hope … to see police held to account for misconduct and for this accountability to create a deterrent that stops the problem for good,” says Benson Shamala, director of IJM Kenya.
No matter where you are in your holiday shopping, be sure to check out what’s new in the Holiday Gift Catalog. This year, the meaningful gifts you can choose from include new items that help make freedom possible in a socially distanced world, as well as accessories for your loved ones that you can put under the tree!
