Children born in Bangladesh’s Daulatdia brothel have struggled for years without official identity, as officials demanded the father’s name and documents—even when fathers were unknown. Now, all 400 children in the brothel have birth certificates for the first time. This remarkable achievement came after decades of work by campaigners like the London-based Freedom Fund and local groups. "They didn’t have the rights of a citizen previously – they were treated as alien in society," said Khaleda Akhter, Bangladesh programme manager for Freedom Fund. The birth certificates give these children the right to attend school, get passports, and even vote. A key discovery was a little-known part of a 2018 law that permits birth registration without any parent information. Previously, this clause was ignored because government officials focused only on standard procedures. After learning about this, campaigners spread the word, gathered data on all children born in brothels, and pushed local offices to register them. Now, over 700 children from brothels in Daulatdia and elsewhere are registered. Mothers have been actively encouraging one another to register their babies, knowing the certificates protect their children’s futures. Sabbir Hossain, co-author of a study on a south-west Bangladesh brothel, explained that before birth certificates, some parents sent their kids to unregulated religious schools or asked men to claim paternity just to enroll their children. Without birth registration, children face risks including trafficking and abuse. Akhter emphasized, "If you don’t have a birth certificate, you are invisible in the system. You are more vulnerable to abuse, trafficking and exploitation. These documents are not just a tool, it’s about survival." In a touching moment, Akhter met a 14-year-old girl, fifth generation in her brothel family, who said, "This is the first time I would be able to get a stipend [to afford] to go to school." She smiled and told Akhter, "Khaleda, my identity has been recognised by the government." This milestone offers hope and protection to many children long denied their rights.