IJM, NCMEC, Meta Host Workshop for Law Enforcement to Protect Kids Online
Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC)
SRI LANKA, March 14, 2025 – International Justice Mission (IJM), the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), Meta Platforms Inc. (Meta), and other partners delivered an investigative workshop during March 10-14 for the Women and Children's Bureau to advance child protective casework.
As reports of suspected online child sexual abuse to the CyberTipline continue to grow year over year, the greatest need is to build capacities of local law enforcement to respond. Project Boost is a law enforcement capacity-building project to do just that. Together with NCMEC, Meta and other partners, IJM’s Center to End Online Sexual Exploitation of Children engages relevant law enforcement units to execute project activities.
“Child exploitation is a horrific and global crime, and we’ve spent years supporting law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting the criminals behind it. It’s why we helped build Project Boost, a collaborative initiative designed to support our partners around the world in the fight against predators,” said Jason Barry, Law Enforcement Outreach Director at Meta. “We're incredibly grateful of the opportunity to be part of the training here in Sri Lanka and to the IJM, NCMEC and the Sri Lankan police for their ongoing partnership.”
Project Boost begins with a five-day in-person training to understand and interpret CyberTipline reports using NCMEC’s case management tool and learn basic online investigative skills. Phase two includes six or more months of remote casework support.
This week’s workshop is the third phase of Project Boost in Sri Lanka. IJM, NCMEC, and Meta returned to support the unit in moving casework forward within a collaborative environment. It follows an initial 5-day training to access, read, and act on CyberTipline reports (Phase 1, July 2024) and 8 months of remote casework consultation and support (Phase 2).
“The opportunity to continue training in Sri Lanka along with our partners, International Justice Mission and Meta, provides vital support to the Sri Lankan Police Service in their efforts to reduce online child sexual exploitation in Sri Lanka,” said Heather Girton, Program Specialist, CyberTipline. “Our belief is that every child deserves a safe childhood and providing resources to enhance law enforcement’s response to reports of this crime type is another step toward making that goal a reality. Having spent time with the unit responsible for these reports, it is encouraging to see that their dedication to this same mission is apparent.”
“We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to work alongside our Sri Lankan law enforcement partners, to help protect victims of online sexual exploitation of children,” said David Ruggiero, Director of Law Enforcement Capacity Building & Consulting for IJM's Center to End Online Sexual Exploitation of Children. “We have seen outstanding results from members of the Women & Children’s Bureau as we have worked with them over the last eight months.”
Through Deputy Inspector General Renuka Jayasundara's leadership the past eight months, we have seen 157 cases opened, 13 suspects arrested, and 15 children safeguarded. The Women and Children Bureau has made significant strides in protecting children from online sexual exploitation.
In 2023, Sri Lanka received over 137,000 reports of suspected online child exploitation. To increase the capacity of law enforcement to act on these reports, global partners are lending their expertise to support Sri Lankan law enforcement with interpreting CyberTipline reports and enhancing online investigative capabilities.
In addition to Project Boost training, and with support from Meta, IJM is also enhancing the technical capacity of the Women and Children’s Bureau, with seven laptops donated to the NCMEC Unit for their ongoing efforts to combat OSEC.
About Meta Platforms Inc.
Meta is building the future of human connection and the technology that makes it possible. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology.
About the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to help find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation, and prevent child victimization. For more information about NCMEC, please visit our website at ncmec.org.
About International Justice Mission
International Justice Mission partners with local authorities in 33 program offices in 19 countries to combat slavery, violence against women and children and police abuse of power. IJM’s mission is to protect people in poverty from violence by rescuing victims, bringing criminals to justice, restoring survivors to safety and strength, and helping local law enforcement build a safe future that lasts. Learn more at: IJM.org.
