Thread by @Sarkodee

A🧵 on the necessity of protection as the most sustainable strategy at scale that we have to protect people at risk of being forced into #modernslavery.

Having tracked NGO, government, church and business responses to human trafficking and forced labour for 15 years, it remains common thought to focus on solutions centred on awareness and risk reduction activities, sometimes referred to as prevention.

What this doesn't acknowledge is the reality that in almost all instances, slavery thrives in a culture of criminal impunity. The violence of slavery is perpetuated when those responsible to stop the violent, simply stand by.

We too often forget that this an extremely profitable crime that traffickers will do all they can to get away with.

So what is the most sustainable approach to addressing the systemic problem of slavery? @ijmaus has a theory of change that centres on what we understand to be PROTECTION.

We define 'protection' as the array of benefits that accrue to people who are in poverty from a strengthened justice system.

And why strengthening justice systems? Because a government with a justice system that is their to protect people from slavery, is a government that owns the problem of slavery.

Put another way, strengthening justice systems, deters criminals, and protects people in poverty from violence.

There is clear evidence around the world that, modern slavery and human trafficking appears highly responsive from an effective, trauma-informed justice systems that is supported by all levels of government.

Some examples of the impact of strengthened justice systems can be seen through independent evaluations of IJM programs. (You can also read these in detail at ijm.org.au/studies)

A 2010 study in Cebu, the #Philippines, found a 79% decrease in minors being exploited in commercial sex establishments and street-based prostitution. Yes hundreds were rescued in this program, but millions will now never fall pray to commercial sex trafficking in Cebu.

Similar results were seen in two other locations across the Philippines, and I'm Phnom Pen Cambodia, we observed the % of minors,trafficked and forced to work in bars and brothels, had dropped from around 30%, to less then one tenth of 1% (0.1%).

A 2017 endline study in the Mukono county, #Uganda, revealed a significant decrease (nearly 50%) in the prevalence of property grabbing among widows. Tens of thousands of vulnerable women and their families are experiencing protection from violence as a result.

A 2018 evaluation in #Guatemala found that IJM’s program to combat the sexual abuse of children led to a tripling of arrest and convictions, leading to a reduction in social acceptance of sexual violence and an increase in reporting sexual violence.

Observations in our forced labour programs across multiple regions are revealing that due to capacity building of local governments prior to the covid-19 pandemic, @ijmaus impact on has been sustained because our partners and government agencies have greater will and capacity.

With more evaluation studies coming out over the coming months and years, what we will see are significant reductions in the prevalence of slavery in targeted regions due to the performance, reliance and confidence in local justice systems measurably improving. 👏

That means millions of people who are now sustainably protected, for the long run, from forced labour, labour trafficking, child trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation of children, bonded labour and violence against women and children.

There is a significant difference between the cost per person protected verse the investment required to rescue, rehabilitate survivors and prosecute perpetrators. And then add on the cost of slavery on the economy and services. A study in the UK found that it was in the b of £'s

The net result of @ijmaus successful programs in Cambodia, the Philippines, Uganda and Guatemala has been to sustainably help governments protect 7.3 million vulnerable people from targeted types of violence.

By collaborating with governments and partners, @ijmaus will continue to scale our work to protect 500 million people from targeted types of violence, including 444m people from #slavery, by 2030.

This is an impact plan I am so excited to be a part of. We know that protection and the theory of change has a strong case. Our challenge in 🇦🇺 is to simply play our part by partnering to make justice for those in poverty, and at great risk of being enslaved, unstoppable.

Like to know more? Send me a note @Sarkodee or simply join this global movement towards protection at ijm.org.au.

@UnrollHelper