IJM’s Center to End OSEC (The Center) piloted the concept of Survivor Consultants in 2022, in which survivor leaders worked side-by-side with IJM in their professional capacities. They spoke to international audiences in round-table discussions (RTDs), shared their testimonies, and offered valuable input and feedback on various content pieces.

Following this transformational season, IJM’s Center and Survivor Consultants co-authored Voices of Empowerment, a report documenting what they learned. More than a report, it also serves as a useful, insightful guide for working with survivors.

“I gained not only knowledge about legal processes, but also friends in the other survivors who participated in the RTDs,” Survivor Consultant Joy says in the report’s foreword. “We spent months working together, exchanging stories, encouraging, and inspiring each other to use our experience and our voice to be bolder advocates of child protection. This report is important to me because of the memories it keeps of this survivor engagement experience.”

One of the priorities of IJM’s Center in survivor engagements was their protection and well-being. The report helps demonstrate what a healthy partnership with survivors looks like.

“This report shows how IJM's Center to End Online Sexual Exploitation of Children engaged us and included us in discussions, meaningfully and ethically,” Liberty, Survivor Consultant shares in the report.

The report is also a testament to the courage of survivors and their passion to continue working against OSEC, alongside pursuing their own careers.

This report shows that survivors are willing and capable of participating in big discussions and are not afraid to share their stories in pursuit of better justice systems. Together, we can create change. - Joy

View the report here.