March 14, 2011
For Immediate Release
By Ariana Johnson, student news writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – “It’s the abuse of power. Anything and nothing at the same time,” said Dr. Wayne Barnard as he defined injustice. “But because of IJM (International Justice Mission) there is hope for justice.”
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| Dr. Wayne Barnard spoke at KHIPP about injustice. (Campbellsville University Photo by Piao Yu) |
Barnard, from Washington D.C., is the director of student ministries for International Justice Mission.
Barnard spoke for a Kentucky Heartland Institute on Public Policy (KHIPP) event at Campbellsville University on March 8.
IJM is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local officials to ensure immediate victim rescue and aftercare, to prosecute perpetrators and to promote functioning public justice systems.
“With our work overseas as well as right here in the U.S. the lacks of injustice will one day cease to exist,” Barnard said.
“One in three women and girls are beaten and raped or violently abused,” said Barnard. “It is the job of IJM to find this type of treatment and stop it.”
Human trafficking is taking place in 177 countries including the United States. “Two million people, men and women, are exploited; and 800,000 are trafficked across borders. Eighty percent are women and girls, and 50 percent are minors,” said Barnard.
“Contrary to public belief, slavery still exists. In the 1800s a slave was worth $400,000. Today a slave is worth only $30.”
Barnard said, “With our 14 field offices and three case work alliances, IJM goes undercover to expose the truth, and break the power between victims and the abuser.”
IJM has six different casework types: sexual violence, slavery, illegal detention, police brutality, illegal property seizure and sex trafficking.
“The perfect form of the public justice system would be for injustice to go in, and through police, prosecutors, judges and social workers, justice will come out. The job of IJM is to ensure that this happens.”
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with over 3,000 students offering 63 undergraduate programs, 17 master’s degrees and five postgraduate areas. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.