News From Washington - October 2011
At last, the legislation we have been working on for almost a year, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, is getting traction in Congress! I am happy to report that the House Foreign Affairs Committee reviewed the bill (HR.2830) day before yesterday and passed it unanimously out of the committee. Our hats go off to Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), the principal sponsor of the TVPRAand the author of the original TVPA, passed in 2000who shepherded the bill through the process. Read More
Share Hope with an Innocent Man in Prison in Kenya
I became an activist when I was ten. That year, inspired by an Amnesty International campaign, I wrote a Christmas card to a man being held in a Greek prison. Connecting with this victim of oppression through a letter, the distance between me - a kid in Massachusetts - and a young man unjustly imprisoned in Greece, seemed much smaller. Read More
News from Washington - September 2011
Every September, Congress returns to Washington after a month-long recess, spent with constituents at town halls and in-district meetings hearing about the issues important to the people in their states and districts. This August, Members of Congress heard a message loud and clear: Americans care about modern-day slavery. IJMs friends around the country held 100 meetings with Members, Senators or their staff in 24 states and let them know that ending slavery and supporting foreign assistance programs that end slavery is their top priority. Read More
Recap of National Call-in Day to Pass the TVPRA
Last week Thursday, September 8, hundreds of advocates around the country called their Senators as part of the National Call-in Day to Pass the TVPRA. Over 1300 calls have been logged by advocates from 47 states!
Constituents can call their Members of Congress about important issues like this any day (so if you havent called yet, you still can!). But a flood of calls on one day really helps draw attention to an issue. Thank you for helping us bring this issue to the forefront! Read More
Your Voice Matters on National Call-in Day
This spring, students across the country created videos to inspire others to advocate for the passage of the TVPRA. Submissions for the TVPRA Student Video Contest called on citizens to join the movement to end modern-day slavery by calling their Senators on IJMs National Call-in Day to Pass the TVPRA.
Check out this inspiring videothe winning submissionfrom the students at Lipscomb University, and dont forget to commit to calling your Senators on September 8! Read More
BREAKING NEWS: House Introduces TVPRA!
Just last week, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) was introduced in the House of Representatives. This bi-partisan bill renews and strengthens the legislation that established U.S. programs to fight slavery at home and abroad. Read More
Join the National Call-in Day to Pass the TVPRA
Throughout the month of August, advocates around the country have been meeting with their Senators and Representatives in Congress, asking for their support on the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). These meetings are crucial in sending a message to Members of Congress that fighting human trafficking is a priority for their constituents.
On September 6, Congress returns to Washington, and we want to make sure the message is still loud and clear: Americans care about ending modern-day slavery and want their elected leaders to care about it too. Read More
District Meeting Campaign
Two weeks ago, Congress went on its annual August district recess, a full month where Members of Congress return to their home states to hear from their constituents about the issues they care about. Meeting with a Member of Congress can be intimidating, but hundreds of advocates around the country have taken the leap during our District Meeting Campaign by arranging meetings with their Members of Congress in support of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) - a bill that will renew US efforts to combat slavery at home and abroad.
Read MoreIntroducing the Justice Campaigns blog!
Welcome to the new blog for IJMs Justice Campaigns! Justice Campaigns is the official advocacy and grassroots organizing program of International Justice Mission. We mobilize people around the country in support of US policies that will lead to the abolition of human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Learn more about our program here!
We are so excited to offer you this blog as a resource in your work as an advocate for victims of trafficking and slavery worldwide. Check back often to find helpful information like:
Read MoreYour Voice Matters – Meet Kate Snow
Ohio State University student Kate Snow first realized her voice matters in the fight against slavery when she attended an in-district meeting at her Congressmans office in Ohio. Kate is now helping lead Justice Campaigns advocacy efforts in Ohio. Hear her story.
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