Overcoming Evil with Good: The Role of NGOs in Combating Modern Slavery

There has been considerable research on modern slavery in recent years. Much of this work has examined legislative developments in different jurisdictions and the subsequent legal compliance and disclosure by businesses of modern slavery in their supply chains. The primary focus to date, therefore, has been government and business actions, respectively. There is a need to also examine other actors involved in the eradication of modern slavery. This chapter considers non-government organizations (NGOs), specifically, faith-based NGOs, in the fight against the evil of modern slavery. A case study of one large, global faith-based NGO—International Justice Mission (IJM)—dedicated to fighting oppression and injustice including human and sex trafficking and modern slavery, is presented. Findings consider IJM’s contribution including their scope, methods of operation, ongoing challenges, as well as critiques of its philosophy and practices. It is argued that NGOs like IJM are important, though not unproblematic, vehicles to ameliorate modern slavery.