Three Boys Freed from Forced Labour
Summary:
Three boys – aged just 10,13, and 14 – are finally free after enduring a year of forced labour in South Asia.
A year ago, these boys had been lured with upfront cash payments and false promises of good food and easy work. But, as soon as they arrived at the worksite, they were trafficked into brutal and exhausting conditions with little food and no safe place to rest.
The boys were made to herd 600 sheep across 635 miles, sometimes crossing state borders. Each day began at 4:30 am, with each boy responsible for 200 sheep and walking nearly 25 miles. They slept in open fields and faced constant threats and verbal abuse from the trafficker.
Everything changed when IJM’s local partner, Gayatri Seva Sansthan (GSS), found the boys in an open field – with torn clothes and extremely fatigued. GSS alerted local authorities, who confirmed it as a forced labour trafficking case. Officials immediately moved the boys to safety and issued Release Certificates to legally cancel all ties to the trafficker, declaring them free.
The perpetrator was arrested for labour trafficking, child labour, and kidnapping.
GSS – supported by IJM – is helping the boys heal in freedom and access government welfare programmes.
“This shows the success of collaboration and partnership amplifying our approach of bringing protection to vulnerable communities.” - IJM staff member
Learn more about forced labour trafficking and what IJM is doing to end it >>
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