Fighting Trafficking in South Asia during the COVID-19 Crisis

Across the developing world, the COVID-19 pandemic has had the harshest impact on vulnerable women and children, who are  experiencing increased levels of violence. In South Asia, thousands of migrant laborers who work in facilities and factories in the cities have returned to neighboring villages all across the region. Loss of income and all job opportunities have left many vulnerable to taking small loans that hold hidden fees they will never be able to repay. Hear how International Justice Mission (IJM) is working to combat trafficking in South Asia, even in the midst of the global pandemic.

Saju Mathew serves as IJM’s Regional President of South Asia. IJM currently has seven offices in South Asia, and Saju oversees our work to rescue and secure justice for survivors of trafficking and to transform the justice system so the poor are protected from violence.

Saju joined IJM in 2008 as the Field Office Director in South Asia, where he led our collaborative casework to rescue families from trafficking and pioneered a flagship program to partner with the government to make reforms that will help end trafficking in South Asia.

Saju has fourteen years of litigation experience in both federal and state courts working for the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office. He received a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and his J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law. Saju lives in Northern Virginia with his wife, Anu, and their five children.