IJM News

CHENNAI, INDIA – Nearly seventy people were rescued from a life of slavery in a rural district in Andhra Pradesh. Children were forced to work beside their parents in the brick factory around the clock – literally up to 22 hours a day – seven days a week. One 10-year-old boy told how he had to make 2,000 clay bricks a day, carrying eight at a time.

The twenty-one families were trapped inside the factory. No one was allowed to leave, and they earned about a quarter a day (14 rupees). The women had one hour a day to cook food for their families.

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – After a ten-year legal battle, one Zambian widow can finally sleep in her home in peace. Just last week, IJM was with Selene* as a judge defended her rights to her home and finally stopped the abusive relatives who were trying to steal it from her.

Bold Theft and Cold Silence

When Selene's husband died in 2003, his sister boldly declared herself as owner of his property. She quickly brought a case to court to have Selene evicted from her home. The court defended Selene's right to the home, but the sister tried again with higher judges.