40+ million people around the world are currently held as modern-day slaves.
4 billion people live without the protection of laws.
2 million young girls are exploited in the commercial sex industry.
1 in 5 women will be a victim of rape during her lifetime.*
According to the non-governmental organization International Justice Mission (IJM), the number of slaves in the world is higher than ever before. By focusing on human rights, laws and law enforcement, IJM’s mission is to end the ongoing slave trade that undermines their global efforts on ending poverty.
IJM has campus chapters at universities and colleges all over the United States. At Milligan University, the IJM chapter got a new leadership team this fall when sophomore Molly Dycus assumed the role of chapter president and rebuilt the team.
While the main focus of IJM is to combat sex trafficking, child sexual assault, cybersex trafficking and forced labor slavery, the chapter at Milligan is primarily focusing on spreading awareness and educating the community.
“Milligan’s focuses are to educate the campus on modern-day slavery, advocate for there to be an end to it, and raise funds for both our chapter and IJM as an entity,” explained Dycus.
According to Dycus, the most important part of IJM is education and advocacy aspects.
“Ignorance is not a virtue and it is so important that people are educated. When we provide people with knowledge, it gives them an opportunity to feel empowered enough to make a difference,” said Dycus, “In order to enact change, people need to have the right knowledge to do so.”
Even though Milligan’s Campus chapter was rebuilt just this fall, the team already consists of six members. Dycus’ ambition is for the team to grow and recruit new members by spreading IJM’s mission and engaging the community. All Milligan students can become a member of the chapter, however, Dycus points out the high value of having team members that are dedicated to IJM’s mission and ready to fully participate in the chapter.
Because of the uncertainty due to COVID-19, Milligan’s IJM team has been very limited in regards to engaging with the community. As of today, they are planning an event called the “Freedom Fast” at the end of October (approximately Oct. 23-24) where the participants will fast for 24 hours, say 24 prayers and give $24 if able, to support the Milligan chapter and the organization. At the end of the fast, the chapter will provide food for everyone who participated.
In addition to being a part of Rush Day on Sept. 16 and hosting the future “Freedom Fast” event, Milligan’s IJM chapter is working actively to spread word of their mission and educate the community through their social media accounts.
If you are interested in becoming a team member or want to participate in future events, reach out to milliganuniv.ijm on Instagram or email Dycus at madycus@my.milligan.edu.
* Information from the United Nations, Global Slavery Index, UNICEF, and World Bank.