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India

Fighting Modern Slavery

There are millions of people trapped in forms of modern slavery in India: more than anywhere else in the world, according to some estimates.

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While India has strong laws against both sex trafficking and forced labour, historically, these anti-slavery laws have not been enforced, and traffickers and slave owners have exploited children, women and men with impunity.

When we first began work in India, slavery seemed hidden: Many people told us they didn’t believe it still existed in the country, and those who were aware of it didn’t have hope that anything could change.

But the scales are starting to tip toward justice—and, every day, we are seeing proof that makes us more confident that slavery in India can end within our lifetime.

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  • RESCUE VICTIMS

    We uncover cases of sex trafficking and support local, national and specialized anti-trafficking police forces with rescue operations, help with evidence collection and provide crisis counselling for survivors during rescue operations.

  • BRING CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE

    Our advocates support the prosecution of traffickers, pimps and other perpetrators, and our social workers help survivors who have chosen to testify prepare to share the truth in court.

  • RESTORE SURVIVORS​

    We partner with several aftercare homes in India to ensure that survivors have a safe place to live, and provide ongoing trauma therapy and vocational and educational support.

  • STRENGTHEN JUSTICE SYSTEMS

    We equip local law enforcement partners with tools and training to combat sex trafficking, raise awareness and help others in the community respond.

  • RESCUE VICTIMS

    We uncover cases of forced labour and help local authorities and police units conduct rescue operations—ensuring that each victim receives an official government Release Certificate, which entitles him or her to government support.

  • BRING CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE

    We advocate for police reports to be filed against owners, and fight in court for perpetrators to be convicted and sentenced.

  • RESTORE SURVIVORS​

    IJM social workers help support released slaves for at least two years, providing counselling and ensuring that children are able to go to school and adults can begin dignifying jobs in freedom.

  • STRENGTHEN JUSTICE SYSTEMS

    We equip local law enforcement partners with tools and training to combat sex trafficking, raise awareness and help others in the community respond.

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“From my work on the frontlines, I can see the momentum for change building. I believe we are facing a very unique window of opportunity in India to make lasting change; to redirect the course of history. We can be the generation that ends slavery in India once and for all.”

Saju Mathew

IJM Vice President of Programs, South Asia

Since 2000, IJM and our trained partners have secured freedom for more than 16,000 survivors of forced labour—and more than 1,000 survivors of sex trafficking. Thousands of former slaves have participated in IJM’s aftercare program since 2006.
We have provided training to nearly 64,000 Indian officials, and are seeing them respond with unprecedented mass enforcement actions against forced labour slavery on their own initiative. This is what will make the fight against slavery sustainable.
Our innovative two-year aftercare program for former slaves begins with a Freedom Training, where participants learn the basics of life in freedom—from opening a bank account to building healthy families—and includes seminars, one-on-one meetings and community support groups. We are now training partners to replicate our successful model, which has expanded our impact across the country.

Help end slavery now.

You can send rescue to those trapped in slavery.

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