The principal reason millions of the world’s poorest people suffer violence is often not the absence of good laws, but the absence of a functioning justice system to enforce those laws. When criminals who seek to abuse, exploit, or oppress people are free to do so with little or no risk of being caught or punished, people in poverty are left vulnerable.

While other poverty alleviation efforts, like healthcare and education, can be outsourced to external organizations, the local justice system’s responsibility to protect their citizens from violence cannot. This protection must come from the local government, for the local community. And until the issue of unchecked violence is addressed, it will continue to undermine all other development efforts.

Your support will help IJM scale our proven model of justice system strengthening through an expansive network of partnerships, reducing crime and delivering protection for children, women and men who need it most.

Together, we can create a world where all are free and safe.