PHILIPPINES — International Justice Mission (IJM) has appointed its inaugural ambassador, social media influencer and founder of Glam-O-Mamas (GOM) Amanda Griffin Jacob to support the fight against the livestreaming of child sexual abuse.

In her diverse career, Griffin Jacob has worked as a model and TV presenter, been an entrepreneur, and touched multiple industries. Yet, her favorite job is being a mother.

Griffin Jacob, who has three sons and a daughter, was galvanized to action after learning about IJM’s work against such exploitation in 2019 and finding out the Philippines was a global hotspot for this crime. Listening to countless victims’ stories made the discovery even more painful.

Griffin Jacob shared:

I am thrilled and honored to be recognized today as an IJM Ambassador and Lead Influencer in the fight against online sexual exploitation of children. Since learning about this heinous crime and its impact on children across the Philippines, I’ve resolved to use my voice and platform—and rally other influencers to do the same—to elevate this issue into the global consciousness until every child anywhere in the world is protected from such unspeakable suffering.

Atty. Samson Inocencio, Jr., Vice President of IJM Global Hub Against Online Sexual Exploitation of Children, said,

IJM is pleased to have Amanda, whose passion for this cause has been evident from the start, as our Ambassador and Lead Influencer. We are deeply thankful to her for not looking the other way when she heard of this issue last year and immediately deciding to take this up as her advocacy. We are excited to take our relationship and collaboration to the next level as we catalyze a global movement to end the scourge of online sexual exploitation of children.

IJM recognizes how deep social media’s roots go and that influencers have become catalysts for mass marketing, campaigning and information sharing. This creates an incredible opportunity to propel IJM towards its 2030 Vision of protecting half a billion people. IJM Ambassadors will be equipped to amplify IJM’s message through collaborative advocacy efforts.

“IJM’s model of government partnership and collaboration proves that the Philippines is a global leader in addressing this crime. I am encouraged that the government is taking such a strong stance against this crime and demonstrating its commitment to protecting children rescue by rescue, conviction by conviction. To end this crime, we must also end impunity and protect children from ever being abused in the first place,” Griffin Jacob added.

4 in 5 cases involve parents and relatives, who livestream the sexual exploitation of children for paying child sex offenders around the world. As a devoted mother, Griffin Jacob found this aspect particularly heinous.

In May, Griffin Jacob spearheaded Mother’s Day campaign #dontJUSTsendflowers in collaboration with other leading Filipina influencers, rallying Filipinos towards the cause. Since then, Griffin Jacob’s resolve to end such crime has only strengthened.

Griffin Jacob is taking part in a second online campaign to be launched on November 23, 2020, alongside 21 other influencers from around the world committed to using their voices on behalf of children suffering from online sexual exploitation.

She will also be participating as a speaker at the Global Resolve Against Online Sexual Exploitation of Children: A Global Virtual Summit, which will run from Wednesday, November 18 to Friday, November 20, 2020. She will speak during the session, “Global Voices Against Online Sexual Exploitation of Children,” on the 20th.

Organized by the Philippines’ Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons (IACAT), in partnership with the U.S. Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office) and International Justice Mission (IJM), the summit aims to strengthen the international community’s resolve to end online sexual exploitation of children.

About reporting online sexual exploitation of children: Contact the Philippine National Police — Women Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC) at (032) 410-8483 (Visayas) or 0917-180-6307 / 0928-604-6425 (Mindanao).

About International Justice Mission International Justice Mission (IJM) is a global organization that protects people in poverty from violence by rescuing victims, bringing criminals to justice, restoring survivors to safety and strength, and helping local law enforcement build a safe future that lasts. Learn more at IJM.org.

For more information, contact:

Evelyn Pingul Director of Brand, Media, and Communications IJM Global Hub Against Online Sexual Exploitation of Children [email protected]

Lydia Bowden Director of Strategic Partnerships, Asia Pacific IJM [email protected]