Bahrain has a tradition of religious coexistence, and is an example of respect for others in a deeply troubled region. People are not required to pass through metal detectors before entering churches, and ‘Jew’ isn't a dirty word. Bahrain was the first Arab nation to assign a Jew as its UN ambassador (2008 - 2013). At a time when Coptic Christians face growing threats in their native Egypt, in Bahrain hundreds of Coptic expatriates travel every weekend from Saudi Arabia to worship freely. While ancient Catholic churches lie in rubble in Iraq and Syria, Bahrain is constructing the largest Catholic church in the Arab world. Christian pastors can find hope in a Muslim country. Although only 2.5% of the population are evangelical Christians, we can pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to help them reach the seven Bahraini people groups who have not yet heard of Jesus.

According to the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (2012), more than half of 15- to 19-year old girls have experienced physical or sexual violence. In an effort to reduce the large number of children who remain exposed to abuse, exploitation, and violence, International Justice Mission (IJM) will work to set up community level referral mechanisms, legal counselling, and aftercare for child survivors of sexual violence. While child protection continues to be a critical challenge in Uganda, this project will enhance services and build strong violence prevention programmes for child survivors and those most at risk of sexual violence.

In June, Iran was responsible for a ‘brute force’ cyberattack on Parliament lasting over twelve hours. It was initially thought that Russia was behind the attack, but intelligence officials now conclude Iran was responsible. It was Tehran's first significant cyberattack on the UK. Hackers repeatedly probed ‘weak’ passwords of politicians and aides, forcing parliamentary officials to lock MPs out of their own email accounts as they scrambled to minimise the damage. The network affected is used by every MP, including the Prime Minister and her cabinet ministers. Nine thousand email accounts were affected. The revelations come after Britain, Germany, and France tried to keep the nuclear deal with Iran, agreed in 2015, on track after President Trump’s refusal to back it.  Trump stopped short of ripping up the deal, but said that it would be terminated unless measures were taken to ‘toughen it up’. He believes the international community is being ‘naïve’ in its dealings with the regime.

Cassie* is a remarkable young woman from the Philippines. She is bright, charismatic and has an infectious smile. Today, she’s studying hard and is excited about her future but for nearly five years - from the age of 12 - Cassie was a slave.

From outside appearances, Cassie’s trafficker took good care of her. She was enrolled in a good school, she wore new clothes, and had a notebook and backpack for the first time in her life.

But behind closed doors, every day when she came home from school, she was raped and abused for an online audience.

She said: ‘He hurt me every day, I was very scared. I was lonely and far away from my family.’

Cassie’s trafficker successfully hid his crimes from unwanted eyes for many years. During the time Cassie was held by her captor, he preyed on the children of family friends, and his nauseating reach eventually extended to a 5-year-old boy and a girl less than a year old.

One Friday night, Cassie came home from school, knowing that the weekend ahead of her held untold terror. That night, Cassie woke up to loud noises. Police were there to rescue her from the home where she had suffered for nearly five years.

“I was very scared. I was crying,” Cassie recalls. An International Justice Mission social worker was there that night, and she told Cassie that she and the other children were not in trouble. They were being rescued. They were finally safe.

45 million people live in slavery today. One in four are children like Cassie. Modern slavery takes many forms - from forced labour in brick kilns to sex slavery in brothels. Cassie was a victim of a new and disturbing form of slavery called cybersex trafficking.

International Justice Mission UK’s Ruth Cooke explains:

‘Cybersex trafficking is a new and horrific form of abuse where paedophiles can go online anywhere in the world and direct the live sexual abuse of children over a webcam. Many of these boys and girls are under ten years old. It is a growing problem for many reasons - such as easy access to the internet, the equipment needed (just a webcam or mobile phone) and - in the Philippines particularly - the widespread use of English that means western customers can be easily understood.’

The problems of cybersex trafficking and slavery are growing. The good news is that organisations like International Justice Mission – the world’s largest anti-slavery charity - are ramping up their response to it.
Ruth Cooke said:
‘There is hope. IJM has rescued thousands from slavery and has helped transform justice and law enforcement systems to stop the problem at the root. We know that with enough funds, prayer and support it is possible to end slavery in our generation.’

Our heavenly Father is not overwhelmed by injustice. Psalm 10 promises us that He hears the desires of the afflicted, He listens to their cry and He takes action defending the fatherless and the oppressed. He is the source of all justice.

The end of slavery starts with us, with our churches. Join IJM by giving, praying or supporting the fight until all children like Cassie are free: www.ijmuk.org

*A pseudonym