In four field offices in Africa, IJM works to protect vulnerable individuals from sexual violence, illegal property seizure, illegal detention and police brutality. These crimes overwhelmingly victimize the poor and children.

Across Africa, after the death of her husband or father, a woman can lose her land, home and livelihood in rapid succession. In Uganda, for example, more than one in five widows and orphans lose all or part of their rightful inheritance though illegal property seizure by relatives. This injustice has ramifications far beyond the initial theft: frequently, children are forced to drop out of school to begin working in the aftermath of illegal property seizure, when their family’s financial needs become so pressing that potential earnings outweigh the value of education. For many families, property can literally be the difference between life and death – it is the source of shelter, and, in many cases, livelihood and food.

In all of its Africa field offices, IJM staff bring justice to those who have been illegally stripped of their property, protecting widows and orphans when they are most vulnerable.

IJM’s Africa offices also combat sexual violence by bringing relief and aftercare to victims and seeking prosecution of their perpetrators. Sexual violence is a major source of injustice and insecurity in Africa: Overburdened legal systems and ineffective medical documentation procedures mean that the chances of justice for victims are low. In Kenya, for example, the government estimates that a rape occurs every 30 minutes; other studies undertaken in the nation suggest that 60 percent of women will be victimized by some form of sexual violence in their lifetimes.

IJM works to combat sexual violence by raising the cost for perpetrators, demonstrating the likelihood of prosecution if they break the law and abuse victims. Staff also ensure that survivors of sexual violence have access to the vital aftercare services they need.

These four offices also conduct casework on behalf of victims of illegal detention and police brutality, which are often under-prosecuted in Africa’s overburdened legal systems.