State Recognition Awarded to Children Born in Bangladeshi Brothels

Thanks to the relentless pursuit of human rights activists in Bangladesh, children born in brothels and on the streets of this country can now proudly hold a birth certificate. These undocumented children, a large number of whom were birthed in Daulatdia brothel, one of the world’s largest brothels, had previously been deprived of a birth certificate and the entitlements that accompany it. The lack of formal documentation made it impossible for these children to enroll in school, and left them susceptible to human trafficking.

Recent reports reveal that over 700 children have now been issued a birth certificate. This milestone was achieved through the combined efforts of organizations like the Freedom Fund, an anti-slavery organization which discovered a previously overlooked provision in the law. According to this regulation, which has been in place since 2018, a child’s birth may be registered even if there is no information available about the parents. Regrettably, this provision was not recognized by government officials until now.

Khaleda Akhter, the Bangladesh program manager for the Freedom Fund, shared her experience and insight with the Guardian. “When I first discovered this provision, we immediately began disseminating the information to our partners,” Akhter explained. She has personally experienced how transformative the acquisition of a birth certificate can be for these children. In her words, “These documents are not just a tool, it’s about survival.”

Photo credit: Shafin Ashraf