International Justice Mission is a Christian organization that addresses social justice issues in developing countries, focusing on victims of violent crime, sex crimes, human trafficking, land seizure, forced labor, and police brutality. It aims to inspire Christians and promote fundamental changes in policies and infrastructure. The organization has 14 field offices in Asia, Africa, and South America, and hires citizens of the nation it works in. While some of its work has been criticized, it generally receives good ratings from charitable rating organizations for its transparency and commitment to protecting donors and beneficiaries.
International Justice Mission (IJM) is a Christian organization working in developing countries to address social justice issues. While the organization is Christian in nature, it is not specifically a Christian ministry and does not use faith as a litmus test in determining eligibility for its services. While the organization is primarily focused on helping people who are not protected or assisted by their governments and legal systems, it is also designed to inspire Christians, especially evangelical Christians, and to set an example of the kind of work that can be carried out by the Christian community.
IJM was founded in 1997 by Gary Haugen. The group focuses on treating victims of violent crime, sex crimes, human trafficking, land seizure, forced labor and police brutality. In addition to providing support to victims, International Justice Mission also attempts to hold perpetrators accountable and promotes fundamental changes in policies and infrastructure with the aim of preventing such crimes in the future. Many of the founding members are highly experienced lawyers, reflecting a strong foundation for the IJM’s work.
As of 2008, International Justice Mission had 14 field offices in Asia, Africa and South America. The organization places a strong emphasis on hiring citizens of the nation it works in, providing people with opportunities, and also giving victims familiar faces to interact with. International Justice Mission carries out investigations, works in the field, lobbies foreign governments and helps collect legal cases. The International Justice Mission’s US headquarters are in Washington, DC, and a number of people work in these offices promoting the IJM and coordinating efforts abroad.
Some of the work of the International Justice Mission has been criticized. For example, the organization works in some countries to get women out of brothels, and critics say some of these women return to brothel work to support their families, because it is the only form of work they are familiar with. While these criticisms are valid, it is difficult to make positive changes in a society without changing fundamental infrastructure and social policies, so it could be argued that while International Justice Mission doesn’t always succeed in “saving” everyone, it contributes to major incremental changes in the time.
Charitable rating organizations generally give good ratings to the International Justice Mission, emphasizing the fact that a large portion of the organization’s funds are used for actual operating costs. The organization’s operations are also very transparent and it is committed to protecting its donors and beneficiaries.
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