International Justice Mission Australia

Last week, IJM Australia’s Madeleine Frith surprised the team by giving us the chance to give her a haircut for Variety - the Children's Charity NSW/ACT's Hair with Heart initiative! Safe to say, it was not a regular afternoon in the office (or that we’ll be adding hairdressing to our skillset!) 💇♀️ A message from Maddie: “I'd been planning this for months and wanted to go short for summer but couldn't decide the best time to do it. Rather than chop it before a wedding earlier this month, I decided to commemorate International Justice Mission Australia's 10-year anniversary!” At IJM, we have seen firsthand how ordinary Australians find extraordinary ways to fight for justice. We are so thrilled that Maddie decided to chop her hair to support people who have lost their hair from cancer, alopecia, or other medical conditions. Fun fact: This is Maddie’s FIFTH time chopping her hair off! The last time she made the cut was three years ago (just before she joined the IJM Australia crew!) #variety #hairwithheart #cancer #alopecia #team #ourteam #australia #haircut #impact

This year, International Justice Mission Australia is officially 10 years old! In 2014, Amber Hawkes, IJM Australia's founding CEO, and Attorney Sam Inocencio (now IJM's Regional Vice President OSEC, Asia Pacific) travelled across the country to help Australians understand how they can be part of the fight for justice. Check out some photos from the events! IJM Australia started with the hope that ordinary people could do extraordinary things to make justice unstoppable. 10 years later, we could not be more grateful for the community of justice seekers around Australia 💙 Thank you for your efforts to help protect people in poverty from violence. Until all are free. #ourteam #10years #justice #untilallarefree

Last week, Apple released a direct reporting feature that allows children to report unwanted nude images in Australia. While it’s a step in the right direction, companies across the industry are still failing to address devastating abuse called out by eSafety’s transparency notices: live video child sexual abuse. Two years ago, eSafety noted in its Basic Online Safety Expectations transparency summary that tech “providers are neither taking action to detect CSEA in livestreams (insofar as any of these could be regarded as livestreaming services) or taking action to detect CSEA in video calls or conferences.” Children being sexually abused to produce and disseminate child sexual abuse material live are waiting for companies to make their platforms and devices safe by design now. They shouldn’t have to wait anymore. Survivors are demanding safety by design and governments must demand that companies deliver on that promise. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gKUUx4Ci

IJM is equipping communities to improve access to justice for Guatemalan Women and Children! Currently, our colleagues are equipping women from Quetzaltenango - rural Guatemala - on four important areas: ➡️ How to identify cases of violence in their community 🤝 How to ask for help after identifying instances of abuse, and what justice institutions and community services are available in their region. 📣The impact and importance of reporting cases of abuse ⚖️ Stages in the criminal process, so victims and survivors feel more comfortable and aware of the process, and have clear expectations. One way that IJM and our partners are achieving this, is through Information Fairs. Between July and September last year, over 790 Quetzaltenango students benefitted from the event! Strengthened communities contributes to a safer future – a future of justice. Get involved with IJM today: ijm.org.au/get-involved/

BREAKING > An Australian man and two women in the Philippines have been charged with child abuse and exploitation offences, following an international investigation. Last month, the Philippine Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime notified Australian Federal Police officers that a man in Australia was allegedly engaging in live online child sexual abuse of a child in the Philippines, allegedly facilitated by a relative of the child. Following a search warrant, NSW Police Force arrested and charged the man with planning for child sex offences outside Australia. Two women in the Philippines were arrested and charged with online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, trafficking, and child abuse material offences. The child has been removed from harm and is currently being cared for by the Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development.

0.68% of Australia’s federal budget goes toward foreign aid. A slight increase to 1% of our federal budget could transform the support that vulnerable communities receive worldwide. Today, there are more people held in slavery than at any point in human history. Now is the time for Australia to lift our foreign aid contributions to bring relief to millions of people in poverty who are living in slavery. It’s time for down under to step up! Together, we can help bring safety and relief to communities worldwide and create a #SaferWorldforAll. #DownUnderStepUp

CEOs from across the Australian aid sector have this message to share.   🌏 As people around the world need our help more than ever, Australia’s aid has dropped to just 0.68% of the federal budget.   By increasing it to a modest 1%, we can make a huge impact on lives around the world.   Join us by emailing your MP today—communication from constituents really makes a difference. 📢   Visit saferworld.org.au to take action now.   #SaferWorldForAll   Lyn Morgain Oxfam Australia Mat Tinkler Save the Children Australia Jane Edge CBM Australia Jo Knight Anglican Overseas Aid Ian Wishart The Fred Hollows Foundation Susanne Legena Plan International Australia Mike Bartlett Melissa Lipsett Baptist World Aid Australia Kate Lee Union Aid Abroad APHEDA Margaret Sheehan ChildFund Australia Kirsten Sayers Caritas Australia Michelle Higelin ActionAid Australia Matthew Maury Tearfund Australia Elijah Buol OAM, MAICD Act for Peace Opportunity International Scott Walters Matt Darvas Micah Australia ADRA Australia Michael Stolz Australian Lutheran World Service Sureka Goringe UnitingWorld Marc Purcell  

BREAKING > Philippine authorities have charged a man over the alleged abuse of 111 children in the Philippines. The Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre (PICACC) has also advised its partners, including the AFP, that authorities have removed 28 children from harm. The PICACC was jointly established in 2019 by the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine National Bureau of Investigation, the AFP, UK National Crime Agency and the International Justice Mission. In 2021, Netherlands Police also joined the PICACC. The arrest of an Australian man in January 2023 and the assistance of the Australian Federal Police’s (AFP) International Network helped Philippine authorities charge the 32-year-old Philippine national with multiple offences contrary to the Philippines Anti-Online Sexual Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Materials Act. IJM has been providing critical law enforcement trainings in the Philippines to combat OSEC, as well as logistical, legal and aftercare support before, during and after operations. It will be alleged in court that the man was the leader of a syndicate, responsible for abusing at least 111 reported victims, aged between nine and eleven years old, and selling child abuse material to at least 19 people from 10 different countries.

We are looking for professionals in the Asia-Pacific region to contribute to a stronger and more effective law enforcement response against forced labour and labour trafficking. Selected professionals will form a pool of experts called the Forced Labour Investigation and Law Enforcement Specialists Group and may have the opportunity to engage with us as an an unpaid volunteer or a paid consultant on a one-off or short-term basis. What we are looking for: ➡️ At least 5 years of work experience in human trafficking investigations, financial investigations, community policing, curriculum development, OSINT, digital case management systems, intelligence development, international police cooperation, and other related fields. ➡️ Selected specialists are required to abide by IJM policies and ensure there is no potential violation of any conflict of interest or non-compete clause with your existing employer/s or client/s. Interested? Learn more: https://bit.ly/3NtkwY1

In the UK, today is Anti-Slavery Day, designed to bring awareness to human trafficking and modern slavery. At IJM, we are on a mission to partner with local communities to build a more just world where everyone can expect to be safe and protected. To date, IJM and our partners have rescued over 95,000 people from slavery and violence, and we won't stop until all are free. Thanks to your support, we have seen justice delivered and systems strengthened - moving towards a future where the exploitation never happens in the first place. Volunteer with us: ijm.org.au/volunteer/ #antislavery #justice #untilallarefree #modernslavery #humantrafficking