Justice for Magdalenes (JFM) was established in 2003.  The group had two main objectives, which were: i) to bring about an official apology from the Irish State, and ii) the establishment of a compensation scheme for all Magdalene survivors. JFM was a not-for-profit, totally volunteer-run survivor advocacy group, advocating on behalf of women who spent time in Magdalene Laundries. JFM exited the political arena in May 2013 having achieved its aims of a State Apology and the establishment of a commission led by Mr Justice Quirke to establish a State Redress Scheme. At this point Justice for Magdalenes Research (JFMR) was established. The members of JFMR have been assisting survivors in a personal capacity since before May 2013 and continue to do this work. Click here to learn about the JFM political campaign from 2009-2013.

The main aim of Justice for Magdalenes Research is to provide for the advancement of education of the general public by researching the Magdalene Laundries and similar institutions and by providing information and support to the women who spent time in the Magdalene Laundries and their families. We understand that in enabling the public to understand the ideology and contexts that gave rise to such institutions that the Irish people will be more sensitised to contemporary conditions that enable prejudicial discrimination to become established and even part of State apparatus. We have focused on the role of the State involvement in the Magdalene institutions and the human rights abuse that occurred there to make the public aware of how to critique and hold the State accountable even as it seeks to devolve its powers to private organisations.