OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In His Image Justice Coalition has been a host site for the A21 Walk for Freedom since 2016. Held every October, this global event raises money for A21’s efforts around the world, while bringing local awareness to the issue of human trafficking. IHIJC is proud to support A21 in its work to end human trafficking!

In January of 2021, IHIJC, based on suggestions from the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, launched Operation Bombardment.  Every other month, our volunteers visit high trafficking areas in Burlington County, and distribute information to businesses, hotels, and motels to help them recognize and report human trafficking.  Thousands of educational materials have been distributed.

In spring of 2018, IHIJC became impassioned about getting the human trafficking hotline posted in the restrooms along our major highways (NJ Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, Atlantic City Expressway). This is crucially important because victims of human trafficking are moved along these highways.  A restroom along these highways might be the only place in which a victim is separated from his/her captor.  It is a life-saving measure to have the hotline posted in these places.  A letter-writing campaign to legislators grew from this passion, and NJ State Senator Troy Singleton responded to the need!  Working with the NJ Office of the Attorney General, the Turnpike Authority, HMS Host, and Senator’s Singleton’s Office, IHIJC succeeded in getting the hotline posted along our major highways!  They were launched in November, 2019!

• Area Youth Training, July 2016
• Willingboro High School, May 2021
• Burlington County FS Youth Partnership, August, 2021
• Life Center Academy, October, 2021
• Browns Mills Success Center, February, 2022
• Urban Promise, June 2022

Contact Us! Connect us to your school, youth group, youth organization so that we can equip students to protect themselves and their friends!

After meeting with several police departments to discuss the concept of addressing demand in human trafficking, and encouraging police actions to target arresting buyers of sex, IHIJC became aware of an obstacle preventing the successful arrest and prosecution of buyers. In NJ, buying sex is a Disorderly Persons offense. It does not come under the category of indictable crime (known as a felony in other states). Therefore, if police were to spend the time and effort to arrest buyers of sex, those arrested would likely receive a small fine and be out on the street again, often the same day. IHIJC realized that in order to be able to shut down human trafficking by arresting the buyers, and making NJ a safe haven where buying sex is thought to be too risky, legislation would have to be passed to make buying sex a fourth-degree indictable crime. This concern was shared with Assembly Woman Carol Murphy, and she agreed to write legislation that would increase the charge/fine against buyers of sex, and remove penalties against sellers of sex, as they are often vulnerable people who have been victimized. Bill A3863 is currently in the NJ Assembly!!! This has the potential to greatly reduce human trafficking, since no buyers=no trafficking. Human trafficking is fueled by the buying of sex, and is hidden within the prostitution industry.

IHIJC has been meeting monthly to pray about human trafficking, very faithfully, since 2016!!! In 2021, we initiated our First Friday Fasts.

Would you like to join us? Contact Us!

A21 Prayer Guide