WOAM & IJM Strengthen Ongoing Partnership to Combat Trafficking in Asia - $329K Raised and Upcoming Missions Soon to be Announced
- Women on a Mission
- Oct 9, 2024
- 4 min read
For Immediate Release
Singapore, October 9, 2024 – Women on a Mission (WOAM), a Singapore-based non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting and empowering women survivors of violence and abuse, continues to join forces with International Justice Mission (IJM), a global organisation committed to combating violent forms of oppression, including sex trafficking, forced labour and online sexual exploitation of children, by partnering with local justice systems around the world to build safe communities.
Justice Illuminated at 1880 in Singapore
On Saturday, October 5, 2024, IJM, with the support of WOAM volunteers, hosted a highly impactful ‘Justice Illuminated’ private event at 1880 Singapore, bringing together like-minded individuals to raise awareness and rally support for their shared mission. The event garnered an impressive SGD 329,000, a significant contribution that will directly strengthen IJM’s ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking and the online sexual exploitation of children in the Philippines. This substantial financial boost will enable IJM to expand its reach, protect children and adults from violence and modern day slavery, and bring them to safety.
Across Southeast Asia, IJM focuses on two particularly devastating forms of trafficking: forced labour and online sexual exploitation of children. Working in close partnership with governments and civil society organisations, IJM’s comprehensive approach includes rescuing victims, bringing criminals to justice, strengthening justice systems, and supporting survivors in rebuilding their lives.
Empowering Women for Change
WOAM is dedicated to empowering women who have faced violence and abuse, with a focus on helping survivors rebuild their lives. This partnership with IJM is particularly meaningful as it reinforces their shared commitment to supporting women and girls. It emphasises the transformative role women can play in their communities, highlighting their resilience and strength. WOAM recognises the global importance of empowering survivors and the ripple effect it has in promoting positive change, fostering a world free from the burdens of violence and abuse. Through their alliance with IJM, WOAM continues to provide survivors with a platform for healing, recovery, and advocacy, amplifying their voices and their potential to drive societal transformation.
Illuminating and Understanding the Dark Issue of Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC)
WOAM’s partnership with IJM began in 2021, with their first international delegation of women travelling from Singapore to Manila in 2022. This inaugural mission aimed to raise awareness of IJM’s critical work in protecting vulnerable populations from forced labour and sex trafficking. In 2023, WOAM embarked on a second mission to Cebu, the Philippines’ second largest city, where IJM is also actively addressing the alarming issue of online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC).
The Gala Committee for this year’s event was formed two years ago, following the transformative experience of WOAM’s first trip to the Philippines. During that mission, the women witnessed IJM’s life-changing work firsthand. Much like the dreams in Willy Wonka, the theme of the evening at 1880 Singapore, where visions of a better world sparked change, WOAM and IJM united around a common goal: to protect and liberate those in the most desperate situations.
This year’s event built on that shared commitment, reinforcing their dedication to safeguarding vulnerable children and marginalised communities. Together, WOAM and IJM’s efforts were driven by the belief that dreams can indeed transform lives, with contributions at the event dedicated to strengthening IJM’s work in combating forced labour and OSEC, with a focus on long-term and sustainable transformation.
New Missions to Southeast Asia Soon to be Announced
WOAM and IJM also announced that they are planning next missions to other countries in Southeast Asia in the coming months. These missions will allow a groups of dedicated women leaders to engage with IJM’s critical work on the ground, focusing on the relief and rehabilitation of victims of forced labour and sexual exploitation. The missions will provide participants with invaluable insights into IJM’s collaborations with local justice systems and organisations, and addressing the urgent challenges of human trafficking and exploitation of people in poverty in this region.
Executive Director, IJM Singapore and Southeast Asia, Rae Lee said, “Through a strong partnership with WOAM, we are able to convene like-minded champions to take action, create change and lasting impact for children and adults who are victimised through violence and exploitation. We look forward to the upcoming missions with great anticipation, as the possibilities for collaboration and transformational impact are limitless.”
A Call to Action
WOAM and IJM continue to highlight the urgent need for global responses to issues like OSEC and forced labour, which often involve abusers and traffickers operating across borders. Strengthening laws, raising awareness, and building partnerships with governments, philanthropists and businesses including tech companies and financial institutions, are essential steps in combating these grave issues.
Christine Amour-Levar, Co-Founder of WOAM, spoke about the partnership with IJM, saying, "Partnering with IJM has been an incredibly humbling and transformative experience. Their tireless work in rescuing and protecting the most vulnerable, especially children, from the horrors of trafficking and exploitation inspires us deeply. Together, we are committed to scaling our impact and making a lasting difference in the lives of those who need it most. Through our partnership, we have seen firsthand that when we unite our efforts, we can bring hope, freedom, and justice to communities across Asia."
Each step taken by these organisations advances IJM’s critical mission to rescue individuals from forced labour and combat the horrific crime of online sexual exploitation of children. The Gala Committee plays a pivotal role in forging strategic partnerships to amplify the message that no child, woman, or man should endure abuse. This year's event further strengthened WOAM's dedication to raising awareness and mobilising resources in support of IJM’s vital work, as they continue to safeguard vulnerable adults and children from violence. Together, WOAM and IJM bring hope and demonstrate that real change is possible through collective action and unity.
For more information, please contact:
Christine Amour-Levar, Co-Founder, WOAM: christine@womenmission.com
Rae Lee, Executive Director, Singapore and Southeast Asia, IJM : rylee@ijm.org
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