2010 – Partnership with the Gates Foundation Proves IJM’s Model of Justice System Transformation
In 2006, IJM received a $5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to prove the effectiveness of their model of protection. The grant was used to open a field office in Cebu, Philippines with an ambitious goal: a 20% reduction in the number of children sold for sex trafficking in the metro area. This test would be called "Project Lantern."
Through Project Lantern, external auditors verified results that were hard to believe at first: an astounding 79% reduction in children being sold for sex in areas where IJM was present. This was the first clear-cut, externally validated data that proved IJM’s model could reliably make communities safer.
2012 – IJM Influences Historic Shift in Labour Trafficking in India
Labour trafficking in India had never been recognised by the government as a problem, despite millions of people being exploited and enslaved. But when a woman escaped the forced labour camp where her husband was killed, IJM learned of her situation and stepped up to advocate for her cause by publishing her story in the national newspaper. The story led to country-wide awareness of the case and put pressure on government leaders to act. This opened doors to more partnerships with local organisations striving to end labour trafficking.
Through IJM’s advocacy and the heroic work of local partners, the government formally acknowledged the problem of labour trafficking in India and issued official release certificates for rescued survivors of bonded labour. This granted the survivors legal emancipation from the slave owners who wrongfully exploited them. Within the same year, funding from Google enabled IJM and local partners to bring 597 people to safety from bonded labour and train thousands in the community to recognise and combat labour trafficking. These major steps of progress would have been considered impossible in previous years.
2016 – Justice System Completes Transformation in Cambodia
Cambodia’s field office became the first IJM office to celebrate complete justice system transformation. After two decades of partnering with IJM, local authorities were fully trained to recognise child sex trafficking and effectively enforce laws to hold perpetrators accountable. This led to a reduction in sex trafficking of minors by 73%, representing thousands of children who would now be protected from the daily threat of this horrific violence.
The success of strengthening the local justice system’s response to sex trafficking opened the door for IJM to shift its focus towards labour trafficking in Cambodia.
2017 – Partnership with The Walmart Foundation Tackles Modern-Day Slavery in the Fishing Industry
IJM collaborated with the Walmart Foundation and the U.S. State Department to bring about tremendous advances in measuring and combating trafficking and abuse in the Thai fishing industry. This unprecedented level of partnership united private and non-private foundation resources to work together towards ending slavery.
This partnership led to the opening of a new office in Bangkok, funded by a diverse group of supporters united by the same cause.
2017 – First Online Sexual Exploitation of Children Conviction in the Philippines
As reports of online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) in the Philippines grew, IJM began to focus on developing the training and technology necessary to stop this crime. In May of 2017, a brave survivor named Cassie* testified in court against the man who abused her. With the support of IJM Manila, the perpetrator was convicted, marking the first case of online sexual exploitation won in the country. Cassie would later become a survivor leader, advocating to protect children against this crime and inspiring tens of thousands with her courage.
2019 – Landmark Conviction of Senior Officer in Kenya
IJM’s work in Kenya to combat rampant police abuse of power took a major leap forward when, for the first time in Kenya’s history, a senior police officer was convicted of brutally beating and killing a man in his custody. This conviction was the result of a five-year legal battle and our Kenyan team’s relentless pursuit of justice. Dozens more convictions soon followed this case as more evidence of police abuse of power was exposed by grassroots community groups and local partners.
2019 – Europol's Most Wanted OSEC Offender Arrested
IJM collaborated on an international, national and local level helped secure the conviction of Europol’s former most wanted criminal. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison in the Philippines after pleading guilty to producing child sexual exploitation material. This was another major step forward in a global effort to help protect children from online sexual exploitation.
2019 - IJM's European Anti-Trafficking Programmed LaunchedIJM’s European Anti-Trafficking Programme is launched in Romania to build a cohesive, cross-border response to trafficking in Europe. The long-term goal of the programme is to protect 12 million people who are at-risk of trafficking across Europe.
So far, since the European Anti-Trafficking Programme began, we've trained over 390 police officers, labour inspectors, and others to respond to human trafficking. Plus, over 90 victims of trafficking have received support services support services from IJM and partners, and 20 traffickers have been convicted.