MANILA, PHILIPPINES – International Justice Mission (IJM) celebrated Amanda Griffin Jacob’s one-year anniversary as IJM Ambassador and Lead Influencer with a video tribute highlighting her contributions over the past year in the fight to end online sexual exploitation of children.
IJM Programs Against Online Sexual Exploitation of Children announced the Glam-O-Mamas founder as its first Ambassador and Lead Influencer on Nov. 16, 202o. Later that week, IJM introduced her to international partners and stakeholders during the global virtual summit, Global Resolve Against Online Sexual Exploitation of Children, where she spoke about the role of influencers in fueling a global movement to end this crime.
As part of activities to celebrate Griffin Jacob and her impact, IJM posted a video clip on social media showing some highlights from her work to protect and safeguard children, along with messages of gratitude from leaders and survivors.
Credits: News feature from ANC, ABS-CBN News Channel
Addressing the renowned author and host, Atty. Sam Inocencio, Regional Vice President of IJM Programs Against Online Sexual Exploitation of Children, said: “I want you to know how grateful I am for you for coming alongside IJM in this mission. It’s amazing how much you’ve done for this mission amidst the challenges brought about by the ongoing health crisis. Thank you so much for lending your voice so we could get our message across to more people in our mission to protect children in the Philippines and around the world.”
“When I learned that you would love to support IJM in our fight to end online sexual exploitation of children, I was very happy and excited. You are a well-known personality in the Philippines and a role model for women, mothers, and the youth. I knew that with your platform and your network, you could make a huge difference in our mission,” said Evelyn Pingul, Director of Brand, Media and Communications of IJM Programs Against Online Sexual Exploitation of Children.
Survivor leader Joy (not her real name) thanked Griffin Jacob, saying: “As a survivor of online child sexual exploitation, it means so much to me that influencers like you are going out of your way to gather more support for the fight to end this crime.”
For her part, survivor leader Chang (not her real name) also expressed her gratitude to Griffin Jacob for “[doing] everything to make this crime end, together with IJM.”
Griffin Jacob has actively leveraged her status as an influencer to make online sexual exploitation of children an issue of national and global concern. She rallied her network of influencers for IJM’s Mother’s Day campaign, #Don’tJustGiveFlowers, in May 2020 and the #ReadyToListen #ReadyToFight campaign in November of the same year.
Both campaigns raised significant funds for the work of combating online sexual exploitation of children and increased public awareness having reached millions of online users. Griffin Jacob also urged stronger public action through media interviews, including with ANC, Tatler Philippines, Modern Parenting, and Weekly Sparks.
She supported a number of IJM activities as a host, including an interview with OneRepublic during the band’s visit to the Philippines to learn more about the work of IJM combatting online sexual exploitation of children. She also served as a host during the recent online event Child Protection Continues: Until All Are Free, which celebrated the recently concluded Child Protection Compact Partnership between the U.S. and the Philippines.
Griffin Jacob also joined IJM in advocating for Foster Care for child survivors of online sexual exploitation. The subject of aftercare for survivors has always been close to Griffin Jacob’s heart. In 2019, Griffin Jacob and her husband David Jacob organized and attended a celebration at a shelter, and provided the children with gifts and entertainment.
For media inquiries, please contact:
EVELYN PINGUL
Director for Brand, Media and Communications
IJM Global Programs Against Online Sexual Exploitation of Children
epingul@ijm.org
www.IJM.org | osec.IJM.org
About International Justice Mission
International Justice Mission is a global organization that protects people in poverty from violence. IJM partners with local authorities in 24 program offices in 14 countries to combat slavery, violence against women and children, and police abuse of power against people who are poor. IJM works with local authorities and governments to rescue and restore survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and help strengthen public justice systems so they can better protect people from violence.
Since 2015, IJM has partnered with the Philippine Government, international law enforcement, and NGOs to combat online sexual exploitation of children, in particular the trafficking of children to create new child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), including via livestreaming video. We have assisted Philippine authorities in more than 250 operations, leading to the rescue of 858 victims and the arrest of 301 suspects of online sexual exploitation of children (first case dates back to 2011).
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