U.S. Department of State 2002 Trafficking in Persons Report - Brazil

Brazil (Tier 2)

In Brazil, women and girls are internally trafficked for sexual exploitation and to a lesser extent as domestic labor. Men are internally trafficked for labor, primarily in the agricultural sector. Brazil is also a source of women and girls who are trafficked for sexual exploitation to countries including Argentina, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The government does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. Brazil does not have a law against all forms of trafficking in persons, but related laws are used against traffickers. Some traffickers have been prosecuted and others are in judicial proceedings. The government actively investigates cases of trafficking, but is often hampered by limited resources and ineffective state and federal cooperation. The Ministry of Labor and Employment's mobile inspection unit has been successful in liberating thousands of men in forced and exploited labor since its inception in 1995, but few arrests have followed. Resources for victim assistance efforts are greatly lacking. Municipalities are required by law to provide social and psychological services to child victims of violence, including trafficking victims, but many are not in compliance due to insufficient funds. The government provides some money to NGOs to assist victims, but the demand far exceeds the assistance. The Ministry of Foreign Relations educates diplomats on how to help Brazilian trafficking victims abroad, and facilitates repatriation. The government has launched some campaigns to prevent trafficking-related activities, including sexual exploitation of children and sex tourism. There is a national action plan to combat trafficking in persons, which coordinates legislative, law enforcement and civil society efforts. The government collaborates with international organizations and NGOs to fight child labor and child sexual exploitation, educate at-risk groups about trafficking, and keep children in school.

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