“Children are sold openly in broad daylight.”
During her seven years working with IJM in Kolkata, Marie has investigated countless brothels, counselled survivors of trafficking, and fought cases leading to the conviction of nearly 40 perpetrators.
Now, she’s taking on a new challenge: working as a consultant with IJM in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
In Bangladesh, Marie has been handling office registration, conducting field assessments, networking with stakeholders, leading trainings with police and even building the new office space!
She has ventured into all 11 brothels of Bangladesh to gain insight into their inner workings for IJM.
When did you first hear about IJM, and what was your first role?
When I was studying law, staff from IJM did a presentation on human trafficking. I was blown away. I did not know such crimes existed. I told myself that I would work for IJM someday. In 2012, I applied and joined IJM as an advocate in Kolkata.
Is there a moment you realised the high stakes of IJM’s work?
During my first court hearing with IJM in Kolkata, I stood as a human shield to defend a 16-year-old victim from lawyers who were heckling her.
It became a violent situation where they slapped me, grabbed my hair, and swung me to the floor. The accused lady, her aunt, snatched my case file folder and tore all the evidence.
It was such a huge mob situation that the court had to shut down. At the end of the day, the judge denied the aunt custody of the child and put her under the Child Welfare Committee’s care.
Why do you think IJM’s mission is important in Bangladesh?
The UNODC report shows alarming numbers of people being exploited, children being sexually abused, and people making profit by exploiting others. The statistics are startling!
In my trips to Bangladesh, I noticed that children are sold openly in broad daylight. The brothels were highly populated. In one of the brothels, I noticed three customers waiting for their turn outside a room.
Generational prostitution is also the culture there. I met a mother who has groomed her daughter to carry on the sex trade. I felt broken to see all this.
In Bangladesh, there’s a scarcity of service providers, and perpetrators are not afraid of the law.
Often, the police do not accept that there are trafficking cases within the country; the prosecutors and the judges believe that most of the trafficking cases that are lodged are false.
The social services sector is also not equipped to protect the victims and keep them safe. The community does not feel safe approaching the police.
What do you hope to see in Bangladesh?
All people have a right to equality, to enjoy basic human rights. Why is it that traffickers and exploiters are living their lives with impunity?
Everyone must feel safe, protected, and live freely.
What has working with survivors taught you?
Working with survivors from Bangladesh and Kolkata has taught me persistence and to be bold in representing them in court.
Each case has impacted me uniquely. There are instances where survivors have encouraged or inspired me and given me courage.
What would you say to people who are thinking about supporting IJM’s work?
Take a leap of faith. My entire journey with IJM began with a leap of faith and so I invite you to do the same.
This invitation extends beyond your journey or association with IJM. Be it any struggle or battle you are currently going through—wherever you are in your life’s journey—take a leap of faith.
If you’d like to "take a leap of faith" and support this critical work as it gets started in Bangladesh, sign up to become a Freedom Partner now >>
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