For years, children born in the Daulatdia brothel in Bangladesh have existed as 'invisible' members of society, lacking birth certificates due to the stigma surrounding their mothers, who are sex workers, and the anonymity of their fathers. The recent milestone of issuing birth certificates to all 400 children in this brothel village has been achieved through the dedicated efforts of campaigners focused on the plight of undocumented children born in brothels or on the streets in Bangladesh. This is a pivotal change that not only acknowledges these children as citizens but also opens doors for them to claim rights typically afforded to others, such as access to education and legal identification like passports and voting rights.

The success in securing birth certificates signifies a major shift in how society perceives these children. Khaleda Akhter, the Bangladesh programme manager for the Freedom Fund, highlighted the significance of this change by mentioning the previously denied rights that rendered these children effectively stateless and marginalized. The requirement of paternal identification, which was impossible to fulfill for many of these children, contributed to their invisibility and alienation from society. With this new development, the lives of these children are set to change dramatically, lifting some of the barriers they have faced.

Campaigners have emphasized the importance of continuing to support and empower not just the children but also their mothers, in order to create a sustainable environment for them to thrive. This initiative is a crucial step in recognizing the human rights of some of society's most vulnerable individuals, setting a precedent for future advocacy efforts across Bangladesh and potentially elsewhere. The successful documentation of these children's identities signals hope for broader societal change and an end to stigma surrounding their origins.