99 people, including 31 children, safe from trafficking in South Asia
Human Trafficking
May 2025
Officials in South Asia recently brought 99 people to safety from trafficking in two abusive brick kilns in back-to-back operations.
The survivors include 31 children as young as six who were forced to work alongside the adults—but who are now safely back in their home state.
IJM served as an expert consultant to guide authorities through proper procedures and local laws. IJM’s state office leader shared,
“These two rescues prove that the [local] government is on the right trajectory in achieving its vision of eradicating bonded labour by 2030…This also sends a strong message to offenders that bonded labour will not be tolerated.”
For months, labourers in one kiln were forced to mould thousands of heavy clay bricks every day, while labourers in the second kiln hauled and stacked them for firing.
All of the families lacked adequate water or toilets, and they faced frequent violent beatings from the owners.
The operations were led by trained officials, relevant government agencies, and police. After confirming the allegations of abuse, authorities moved the victims to safety and issued them with Release Certificates—which formally mark their freedom, entitle them to compensation and outline other government protections.
Officials then arranged train journeys to help the survivors return home and coordinated with the Child Welfare Committees to support their short-term recovery.
Police are still completing their investigation and the process of filing charges against the alleged trafficker and kiln owners.
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