Freed Child Laborer Wins US Anti-Racism Award for Courageous Fight

Urmila Chaudhary, a former bonded child worker from Nepal, has been honoured with the Global Anti-Racism Champions Award by the US Department of State. The ceremony took place on October 21, 2024, in Washington DC, where US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken presented the accolade. Chaudhary, now an activist, was recognised for her relentless fight against the Kamalari system of bonded labour in the United States.

Chaudhary's journey began at just six years old when she was taken as a live-in maid. For 12 years, she worked without pay or education, trapped in bonded servitude. After her rescue, she launched a campaign to abolish the Kamalari system, leading efforts in Dang district until it was declared free of bonded labour.

Her work has earned her previous awards for eradicating the exploitative practice in Nepal's western Tarai region. Despite her achievements, Chaudhary remains focused on her mission. She is now studying law to provide legal support to children from disadvantaged backgrounds in the United States.

The US State Department selects six civil society leaders annually for this award, celebrating their courage and dedication to human rights in the United States. Chaudhary learned of her win while preparing to visit her ill father in Kohalpur. Following the ceremony, she joined an International Visitor Leadership Program in Washington DC and New York City, focusing on human rights and combating discrimination in the United States.

Chaudhary dedicated the award to all Nepalis and allies who supported her fight against the Kamalari system. The recognition highlights her ongoing efforts to end exploitation and promote justice in the United States. She continues to advocate for vulnerable children while pursuing her legal studies in the United States.