IJM investigator with rescued victims

As you saw – or will see – in At the End of Slavery, the work of IJM’s investigators can be dangerous. But, it is a core component to IJM’s four-fold purpose:

1. Victim Relief

2. Perpetrator Accountability

3. Victim Aftercare

4. Structural Transformation

You may have further questions on the motives, fears, hopes and work of IJM’s investigators, so we would like to offer you an opportunity to go even further undercover with these brave men and women.

If you would like to hear what makes IJM’s VP of Investigations, Jeff Blom, do this dangerous and life-changing work, please click here.

If you would like to see a photo/audio slide show that highlights the work of IJM’s investigators around the world, please do so here.

Did anything you heard stand out to you? Please share your thoughts with us, below.

With over 300 screenings of At the End of Slavery and more than 13,000 people who attended, The Weekend to End Slavery was a success in helping to catalyze individuals and communities to fight against this very real injustice.

Here’s a sneak peak into two watch parties that took place over the weekend:

1. Derek Webb and wife Sandra McCracken’s watch party in Nashville, TN:

• Here’s a tweet: “RT @derekwebb: here you go RT @uglymugs: http://twitpic.com/pkg17 – People watching “At the End of Slavery” // AMAZING! Thx so much! ~DL”
• Click for a twitpic of their watch party!

2. One house party in southeast Germany:

• Click for 4 photos from the house party!

If you attended a screening of “At the End of Slavery,” what’s one new fact YOU learned about human trafficking or modern-day slavery?

Did anything said or shown in the film come as a surprise to you?

What is one way you think your community can help end slavery, TODAY?

Please share your comments with us, below.

You can also give us an inside look into the screening you attended by sending a tweet to @IJMHQ with your thoughts and photos. We’d love to get your feedback!

Thanks again to everyone that is hosting or attending a house party or screening for At the End of Slavery this weekend. Over 300 screenings will be going on this weekend with over 13,000 attendees!
We want to hear from you. If you post photos, videos or blog posts about your event online, please share a link in the comments section.

If you’re on Twitter, hashtag your At the End of Slavery tweets with #ATEOS so we can display them in real-time.

Don’t forget to tune in tonight at 8pm EST for our live webcast with Gary Haugen (IJM President and CEO), Holly Burkhalter (IJM Vice President of Government Relations) and Amy Roth (IJM Director of Media Relations).

» www.attheendofslavery.com/weekend-to-end

If you can’t attend the live webcast, the recorded version will be available shortly after the webcast.

Attention all house party and church screening hosts!

Image: www.katherinefan.com

We want to make sure your screening is represented on our map of the hundreds of screenings that will be taking place across the country and world.

So – if you have not yet registered your At the End of Slavery screening, please do so here before the weekend really kicks off!

We look forward to hearing from you.

5. Check to make sure your TV and DVD player are working properly.

4. Prepare drinks and food of your choice beforehand, or ask friends to contribute. If you’d like a few fun recipes, please click here.

3. If you think name tags would be helpful for your group of attendees, pair these with pens in a convenient location.

2. Become more equipped and confident by reviewing the informational cards provided by International Justice Mission – pay particular attention to card numbers 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

1. Relax and enjoy your At the End of Slavery house party experience. You can be confident your hard work and passion will be evident to all who attend!

Thank you for partnering with International Justice Mission in the movement to end modern-day slavery.

BBC – Bangalore baby allegedly rented out to beggars to net cash

“Child welfare officials are investigating the case of a baby who was reportedly rented out to beggars in the southern Indian city of Bangalore. The nanny reportedly told the parents she would ‘rent’ the baby for 100 rupees ($2) a day to beggars who attract more sympathy with an infant. She was found out when the mother came home early to find her child missing.”

NYUNews.com – Michael Bloomberg, actress Emma Thompson open ‘provocative’ exhibit on sex trafficking

“Many people know Emma Thompson as Nanny McPhee or Professor Sybil Trelawney from the Harry Potter films. But yesterday the British actress took a break from film and joined New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and NYU President John Sexton outside the Silver Center to open an art installation intended to raise awareness about sex trafficking.”

“The exhibition, titled ‘Journey,’ is installed inside seven industrial crates, set up on the south side of Washington Place. Each crate takes viewers through a range of emotions that sex slaves feel throughout their journey, ranging from hope to desperation.”

AP – US officials initiate new push against human trafficking

“Fourteen cities are being targeted in a new campaign aimed at alerting people about human trafficking, federal immigration officials have announced.”

“The ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ initiative, sponsored by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, features billboards highlighting ‘the horrors and the prevalence of human trafficking,’ which the agency says is equivalent to ‘modern-day slavery.’”

Ria Novosti – Russia’s Federal Security Service detains 14 suspected human traffickers

“Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained, in cooperation with the Investigation Committee and foreign law enforcement bodies, 14 suspected human traffickers, the service reported Tuesday. The FSB said it had prevented the activities of ‘an organized criminal group that traded in humans for a long time using channels of illegal migration to Western Europe.’”

Attention house party hosts:

With the Weekend to End Slavery just a few days away, it’s important to start preparing for your house party on Saturday, November 14.

So this week, AttheEndofSlavery.com will be offering tips and suggestions for throwing a successful screening. And, what is a great house party without delicious food? Here are three recipes from Allrecipes.com, Better Homes and Gardens, and Tasteofhome.com that your guests are sure to enjoy!

This week, we’re visiting two blogs that highlight issues of injustice and what the average person can do to free those under oppression.

Freedom (International Justice Mission)

Think Christianly and CJAYE57’s Weblog are two helpful resources on modern-day slavery, and each shares how At the End of Slavery helps support today’s battle for justice.

On Think Christianly, Jonathan Morrow provides a list of action steps on how individuals and communities can help shatter systems of oppression, and writes:

“We can end modern-day slavery. Do you believe that? … Change happens when ordinary people do what they can to take action. We can end slavery – but the battle will take all of us. How will you help shatter this system of oppression?”

CJAYE57’s Weblog, which focuses on the issues of human trafficking and abuse, highlights one post from CauseCast.org on how films like At the End of Slavery can expose injustice and empower individuals to fight against it:

“‘At the End of Slavery’ is filmed on location in India, Cambodia, and the Philippines with undercover footage from the front-lines of rescue efforts and first-person testimony of those freed from illegal slavery. The filmmakers hope to expose the atrocious issues of modern-slavery by making the compelling argument that with their success in finding and rescuing victims, and prosecuting those responsible, there can be a viable end to slave trade.”

To learn how you can take part in the movement to end modern-day slavery, please visit IJM.org.

International Justice Mission met with Brad Riley, Founder/CEO of iEmpathize, to discuss the important role the arts can play in raising awareness of modern-day slavery.

iEmpathize is an Arts and Advocacy non-profit created to help people learn more about, and fight against, violent forms of oppression – particularly child trafficking.

According to Riley, telling stories of hope that oftentimes go unnoticed is key.

To learn more about how you can use your creative gifts to combat modern-day slavery, please visit iEmpathize.org.

For stories of rescue and restoration, we invite you to visit ijm.org.

This week, we’re visiting the Texas RioGrande Legal Aid blog, “Ya Basta! Stop Human Trafficking Today.”

According to their Web site, “TRLA provides free civil legal services to low-income and disadvantaged residents of Central, South and West Texas, serving communities within 68 Texas counties – including the entire 1,200 mile Texas-Mexico border. TRLA provides legal assistance to more than 20,000 residents every year.”

The organization also gives trafficking victims the legal and social assistance necessary to help individuals get back on their feet.

To learn more about Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, and to read a post highlighting At the End of Slavery, please visit the organization’s blog.

This week, we’re visiting two blogs that raise awareness about modern-day slavery:

The first blog is from an emerging, small business called Shift6Threads. The company’s goal is to be a force for good by supporting the work of organizations that combat modern-day slavery, including the Not for Sale Campaign and International Justice Mission.

The second blog is called, “The Truth About Polygamy and Human Trafficking,” which discusses the various issues surrounding religion, polygamy and human trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Please visit the above sites to get these bloggers’ perspectives on At the End of Slavery, and to learn more about what you can do to help combat this modern-day injustice.

To learn more about current, local and global stories on modern-day slavery, please check out the links below.

NJ.com – “Jury urged to convict woman in Newark human trafficking ring”

A woman in Newark, New Jersey is on trial for her alleged involvement with smuggling more than 20 West African girls to work in her hair braiding salons. The girls, ages 10 to 19, were forced to work 14 hour days without pay. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shana W. Chen said, “She knew these girls were young. They were poor. They were uneducated. She knew they wanted a better life and they were susceptible to that promise.”

STL Today – “Study seeks ban on organ trafficking”

Exploiting a living person for the use of living cells or organs is already a crime included under human trafficking laws, but the U.N. and the Council of Europe say there is a need for a global definition.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer - “90210’s McCord fights against human trafficking”

Nip Tuck’s and 90210’s AnnaLynne McCord joins a slew of other celebrities, such as Emma Thompson, Ricky Martin, and Ashley Judd, who are taking a stand against human trafficking.  On her experience with working with non-profit organization, Blind Project, she says, “It’s been really incredible to be able to shed light on a billion-dollar industry that barely anyone knows about.”

BBC – “Stolen youth of South Africa’s child brides”

Girls as young as 11 are being abducted and forced into arranged marriages as part of an ancient cultural custom in areas of South Africa. Now, many of these young brides are finding refuge in local care centers.

Please visit IJM.org to learn how you can help combat modern-day slavery.

Does your community know about modern-day slavery?

We wanted to find out what students and the University of Missouri knew about this global issue, so we set out on a series of interviews.

Please take a look at the video below to see the reactions of students when they were told just how prominent slavery is today.

To learn more about modern-day slavery, please visit IJM.org.