Brazil Recorded One Case of Human Trafficking Every Four Days in 2018

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Figures from the Ministry of Women, Family, and Human Rights show a worrying scenario: Brazil recorded one case of human trafficking every four days in 2018.

Cases involving sexual exploitation are the most prevalent. Grandmothers are the principal perpetrators. The data are part of a survey by the National Ombudsman’s Office for Human Rights, based on calls to Dial 100 — the federal government’s denunciation phone line.

Last year there were 159 complaints, which resulted in 170 violations (the same person may have been a victim in more than one crime).

A quarter of all cases involve sexual exploitation. Trafficking (domestic and international) represents 25 percent of denunciations, of which 16.9 percent is domestic, and 8.1 percent is international.

The ranking also includes cases of domestic trafficking for adoption (7.5 percent), domestic trafficking for labour exploitation (6.9 percent), international trafficking for labour exploitation (5.0 percent), international trafficking for adoption (2.5 percent), international trafficking for organ removal (1.8 percent) and domestic traffic for organ removal (0.63 percent). “Others” account for 57.23 percent of violations.

Among the victims, 53.1 percent were females, followed by males (11.7 percent), and unspecified gender (35.14 percent).

The balance of 2018 also reported that the victims’ age range is 15 to 17 years (18.9 percent), 0 to 3 (7.2 percent), 25 to 30 years (6.31 percent), 12 to 14 (4.50 percent), 18 to 24 (3.6 percent) and newborn (1.8 percent). Of these, 54.9 percent did not report the age group.

Regarding the relationship between suspect and victim, grandmothers are the main reported perpetrators of violations — they represent 4.2 percent, followed by strangers (2.4 percent), mothers (1.8 percent), employees (1.8 percent) and employers (1.2 percent). The undisclosed relationship totaled the highest rate (86.7 percent).

According to the reports, violations generally occur at home (34.1 percent), the suspect’s home (20.2 percent), the victim’s home (5.0 percent), and the workplace (3.0 percent). The numbers recorded in 2018 are 29 percent lower than in 2017 when 226 cases of human trafficking occurred.

For the Minister of Women, Family, and Human Rights, Damares Alves, it is necessary to alert society to this hidden crime that endangers the lives and dignity of people.

Provided by the federal government, Dial 100 is a direct and free service available throughout Brazil. This tool may also be activated through the Proteja Brasil (Protect Brazil) App.

The purpose of the service is to respond to and forward accusations of human rights violations involving children and adolescents, the elderly, the disabled, the homeless, the LGBT population, racial equality, prisoners, rural and urban conflicts, and indigenous grievances, among others.