The Ole Miss student chapter of the International Justice Mission will be hosting Justice Week this week to raise awareness of the numerous human rights abuses occurring around the world today.
Twenty-seven million people are kept as slaves around the world, according to the International Justice Mission’s website.
The University of Mississippi chapter of the International Justice Mission is holding Justice Week this week to raise awareness of exploitation around the world and to raise funds for the mission.
“The International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that brings rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression,” said Buki Alabi, Ole Miss member and engineering graduate student.
“Mission lawyers, investigators and social workers work with local officials to secure immediate victim rescue and aftercare, to prosecute perpetrators and to ensure that public justice systems police, courts and laws protect the poor.”
The week will start with a worship service in the Grove on Monday.
“I’m really excited about this week’s events,” Alabi said.
“It’s really great because we have members who attend different campus ministries that have all come together to plan this event.”
Other events include a screening of the movie “Amazing Grace,” a fair trade day to educate students on fair trade, a 5-kilometer walk/run, an open mic night and a prayer service to end the week.
Many everyday foods, clothes and appliances may be manufactured by forced-labor slaves, which is why the IJM chapter said it is hosting a fair trade day.
“Something as simple as researching about companies before we buy from them can change a lot of the ways companies do business,” said Lucus Jackson, planner of the 5k run.
Before Ole Miss student Ashley Ferguson knew about the university’s International Justice Mission chapter, she said she had already taken on the task of planning a 5k walk/run and then mailing the proceeds to the mission’s headquarters.
“The main focus of this race is to share Christ and to spread his gospel, while also raising money and awareness for all of those enslaved around the world. For me, this race, as well as Justice Week, is so much more than humanitarianism or a good cause. This race and the issue of ending slavery are all about Christ and strikes right at the heart of the Christian gospel,” Ferguson said.
For interested students, IJM holds meetings Mondays at 7 p.m. in Peabody 206.
