IJM News

IJM Kenya: Jailed for a Crime They Did Not Commit, Two Men are Finally Free

Wed, 02/22/2012

NAIROBI, KENYA – Two young men were released from prison late last week after being held unjustly for two years behind bars. The men were both arrested exactly two years ago and charged with robbery with violence – forced to languish in a Kenyan prison for a crime neither had committed.

IJM learned about the men, both in their early twenties, about a year and a half ago. Since then, IJM lawyers have represented them in court, urging the judge to release the men based on the lack of evidence connecting them to the crime.

IJM Bangalore Helps Rescue Families from Slavery

Fri, 02/17/2012

BANGALORE, INDIA – This week, IJM Bangalore helped government officials to rescue families forced to work as slaves in an abusive brick kiln.

A brick-maker named Maruti* heard about a group that had helped people like him find freedom from slavery. He eventually tracked down the phone number of an IJM staff member and made a secret call for help.

The laborers told IJM that they were forced to wake up as early as 2AM to start working. They molded bricks from clay and baked them under the hot sun.

IJM Chennai: Dozens Rescued from Slavery in Abusive Rock Quarry

Tue, 02/14/2012

CHENNAI, INDIA – Dozens of children, women and men were rescued from slavery in a rock quarry late last week. IJM assisted government officials to bring the families out of the quarry and secure official release certificates declaring them emancipated from forced labor slavery.

IJM staff accompanied the families from the rock quarry to the government office, where they testified to the dangerous conditions of their enslavement.

Thank you for sending a strong message!

By Holly Burkhalter - Fri, 02/10/2012

We’ve hit our goal of 27,000 signatures – but YOUR name can still stand for freedom. Let’s make an unforgettable statement by blowing this goal out of the water! We’ll continue adding voices calling for an end to slavery all the way up to our meeting with the Obama Administration.

IJM Cambodia Assists Anti-Trafficking Police to Rescue Girl from Brothel

Fri, 02/10/2012

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA – Early this morning, IJM worked with police to rescue a girl who was being exploited in a small Cambodian brothel. IJM staff accompanied her to the police station, where she shared about the abuse she had endured.

IJM Cambodia’s Director of Investigations noted that the anti-trafficking police unit worked quickly and efficiently to make sure the rescue operation was a success, from the initial planning to final execution.