Nepali Woman Sold into Servitude at Age 6 Honored as Global Anti-Racism Champion in the U.S.

Nepali activist Urmila Chaudhary is recognized with the prestigious Global Anti-Racism Champions Award by U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken during a ceremony at the U.S. Department of State today.

Chaudhary, a former child laborer who was rescued at the age of 17, has emerged as a powerful voice for marginalized castes and ethnic communities in Nepal. She co-founded the Freed Kamlari Development Forum, an organization dedicated to empowering former bonded laborers, and has since established 42 cooperatives to support their reintegration into society. Her activism extends to gender and labor rights, and she is currently pursuing a law degree to strengthen her fight against injustice and systemic racism in Nepal.

Chaudhary’s recognition with this award highlights her lifelong dedication to eradicating bonded labor, especially among Nepal’s Tharu community, and her efforts to combat the intersecting forms of discrimination that affect marginalized communities. Her work has been instrumental in challenging deep-rooted social inequalities and advocating for justice and equality.

At the Global Anti-Racism Champions Awards Ceremony, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken praised Chaudhary and her fellow honorees for their courage and leadership. In his remarks, Blinken said, “Urmila Chaudhary has been advancing human rights and economic justice for indigenous women in Nepal for nearly two decades. Urmila was sold into domestic servitude at the age of six, before being rescued at 17. Only then was she able to learn to read and write. Urmila started a nonprofit organization that locates, frees, and empowers women and girls in situations like hers. She’s also coauthored a book to share her own experiences and raise awareness about forced labor and child slavery.”

“The courage of these honorees, of the causes and the communities that they represent – this is the most powerful antidote to hate, to despair, to hateful acts, to hardened hearts. And that’s why we come together today – to celebrate their extraordinary achievements,” he added.

Special Representative Desiree Cormier Smith read the citations on the awards that Secretary Blinken presented to the honorees. The citation for Chaudhary reads: “Urmila Chaudhary, for demonstrating exceptional courage, strength, leadership, and commitment to advancing the human rights of members of marginalized castes and ethnic communities in Nepal and combating systemic racism, discrimination, xenophobia, and other intersectional abuses, while playing a crucial role in social justice movements to promote equitable access to economic development.”

Following the award ceremony, Chaudhary and the other honorees will participate in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in Washington, D.C., and New York City. This program will provide an opportunity for knowledge exchanges on advancing human rights, combating systemic racism, and addressing the challenges faced by marginalized communities globally.