Daniel Island residents advocate for global victims of violence, brutality
Vasanthi was rescued from forced labor slavery in Chennai, India. Griselda, a 13 year- old sexual assault victim living in Guatemala, was able to help bring her attackers to justice. In Uganda, Grace was protected when violent neighbors attempted to oust her from her home.
Although Daniel Island residents Bill and Catherine Read don’t know these victims personally, they have taken their stories to heart. All three women found the help they desperately needed from International Justice Mission (IJM), the world’s largest global anti-slavery organization dedicated to investigating and intervening on behalf of victims of oppression. Bill and Catherine, who moved to Daniel Island from Vermont in 2008, signed on as volunteers after attending an IJM event approximately 15 years ago.
“What really hit us was that this isn’t just about rescuing individuals, from the eight year-old girls…to the women who have their land taken away in Africa, or wherever they may be,” said Bill, a management consultant for Accenture. “It’s also about affecting the justice systems in these countries and helping with the training of the police force…and then going after the perpetrators.”
“Once I had heard the stories and knew the names and faces, I felt compelled to respond in some tangible way,” added Catherine, who works locally as a spiritual formation advisor to churches. “…IJM was already on the front lines, fighting some of the worst forms of violence, and their model was working…They partner with local authorities to rescue victims of violence, restore survivors, restrain criminals, and represent survivors in court.”
The stories of Vasanthi, Griselda, and Grace are featured on the IJM website, along with a plethora of gut-wrenching statistics. According to IJM, some 2 million children are exploited in the global commercial sex trade, an estimated 36 million people are held in slavery today (one in four of those victims is a child), and about 90 percent of rural sub-Saharan Africans have no proof of ownership for the land where they live and work, making them susceptible to criminal acts.
But there is good news to share. IJM reports that it is making a difference on all fronts. Their work has resulted in bringing more than 900 perpetrators to justice and, over the last seven years, the rescue of some 2300 woman and children from trafficking. After just four years of work by IJM in Cebu, Philippines, there was a 79 percent drop in the number of minors available for commercial sex. In 2015 alone, IJM rescued 4100 victims of modern slavery and violent oppression and is currently protecting over 21 million around the world.
Bill and Catherine were so moved by the progress of IJM that they began working about a year ago to bring an inspirational program to the Lowcountry that will raise awareness about the organization and its worldwide efforts. On Sunday evening, April 17, at Second Presbyterian Church on Meeting Street in downtown Charleston, IJM will host the “Charleston Concert for Justice” as part of its 2016 Art Music Justice Tour.
Dubbed in a press release as “an exciting night of music and stories for a better world,” the concert will feature acclaimed Christian music singer/songwriters Brandon Heath, Sara Groves, and Jenny & Tyler.
“Human trafficking is coming to the forefront of America’s consciousness,” said Heath, a Grammy nominated artist. “If we can use our talents and our voices we can inspire people to awareness and action. Nobody is more effective than IJM in the fight against slavery.”
“We’re honored to share the stage with some of our favorite songwriters and join in a conversation about the global reality of injustice and the heroic, sometimes miraculous, stories of redemption and freedom,” added duo Jenny & Tyler.
“In a world of bad news, it is a joy and a privilege to bring these incredible stories of rescue to people around the country,” said Groves, a seven time Dove award nominee. “This is Good News! And it’s good music! I wanted to gather artists whose lives and art point to the redemption of all things. I’m looking forward to this tour!”
The event also serves another important purpose, noted Bill. The effort has brought together some 30 churches in the Charleston region to further the cause.
“This cross-denominational partnership is special,” he said. “It’s bringing many people together, all with a common interest in the fight against human trafficking, which is at the core of a lot of this, as well as the violence that occurs, and the slavery that often results…the extent of the problem is far more than what many people recognize.”
“I was horrified to discover the magnitude of the problem,” added Catherine. “…Because laws are rarely enforced in developing countries, criminals continue to abuse the powerless at a particularly high rate without fear of consequences.”
Both Bill and Catherine are strong believers in the IJM mission and are confident that the community will turn out to support the event on April 17 at Second Presbyterian, which is located just about 100 yards away from Mother Emanuel Church, the site of a shooting resulting in the tragic death of nine church members in the summer of 2015. Charleston has proven to be resilient and strong, noted Bill, and deeply committed to healing and restoration.
The Reads hope the upcoming concert will inspire people to get involved in the IJM fight, so that victims like Vasanthi, Griselda and Grace, will not have to suffer.
“I think the trajectory of the impact that’s occurring here is wonderful,” added Bill.
For ticket information on the Charleston Concert of Justice, please visit www.artmusicjusticetour.com. Additional details about IJM can be found at www.ijm.org.
CHARLESTON CONCERT FOR JUSTICE
Sunday, April 17, 7p.m.
Featuring Sara Groves, Brandon Heath, and Jenny & Tyler
Second Presbyterian Church
342 Meeting Street - Charleston
For tickets or additional information, visit www.artmusicjusticetour.com