This weekend, IJM partnered with another international nonprofit here in the city to conduct a police training on identifying, rescuing and preventing child trafficking. One of our talented advocates delivered a dynamic presentation to about 60 police officers, first defining what trafficking is and how children are exploited in this way, and then explaining what laws exist and how they protect kids and prosecute traffickers. Not much help during the lecture or case study groups which simulated trafficking scenarios (and were conducted in Tamil), I took photos during the event and wrote up a brief story highlighting the significance of the event for IJM headquarters.
Our office is in an exciting position right now, expanding from specialized casework to a total structural transformation. Our investigators, aftercare managers and lawyers will continue to rescue, rehabilitate and advocate for individuals who have been forced to labor as slaves. But we are also seeking to change the political and social structures which allow the injustice of forced labor slavery to exist, despite laws against it.
The police training was an important "first" for our office. IJM has a team of talented lawyers who really understand the laws surrounding forced labor. We hope to be a resource for local law enforcement agencies, to offer our expertise and aid them in enforcing laws that already exist.
Work is busy as usual, but I'm working on a variety of projects which makes the days pass quickly and the mundane stay away. It's getting hot; it was over 100 degrees today, plus A LOT MORE humidity. And there's no salty breeze, just sticky city air. So I'm grateful for the AC in my office and the juice bars on many a corner, blending just-in-season mangoes for a refreshing afternoon treat.
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