Trafficking in women and children for purposes of sexual exploitation in Brazil is a large and complex problem. Addressing this problem will require a multi-faceted response, some of which Brazil has recently undertaken.
I. Socio-Economic Factors
As demonstrated in this research, trafficking is driven by a
number of socio-economic factors that need to be addressed. These
may be characterized as push factors and pull factors. Push factors are
those economic and social conditions which create a population at risk
of becoming the objects of trafficking. Pull factors relate to the
markets that create the demand for trafficked persons. The research
reveals no surprises. Both conform to common sense expectations.
Push Factors
Push factors may be divided into discrete categories: poverty;
violence; discrimination; and break up of the family and/or social
support network. However, despite their differences, in many cases
these categories frequently interact either exacerbating a problem or
acting as its cause. For example, poverty frequently causes or
exacerbates problems of violence, discrimination and/or break up of the
family.
Poverty The most obvious characteristic of trafficking is that
it flows from areas of lower economic opportunity to areas of relatively
higher economic status. At the most extreme level, the need to survive
drives trafficking. In other cases, aspirations for a better life may take
precedence.
Sexual and Domestic Violence A large percentage of women
and a majority of children and adolescents trafficked for sexual
exploitation come from home environments where they were the
victims of sexual or psychological violence. Being trafficked
represents a survival response.
Discrimination Discrimination against women, homosexuals,
and bisexuals as well as racial or ethnic discrimination frequently
exacerbates conditions of poverty and/or violence. As previously
demonstrated, women and children are generally poorer than their male
counterparts, with fewer opportunities and suffering greater health
problems.
Break up of the Family and Social Support Systems Social
dislocation has placed enormous strain on the family. Family break up
frequently impoverishes women and their children. Similarly,
vulnerably increases for children subjected to violence without a
support system to help them address that violence.
Pull Factors
Demand creates the market for the victims of trafficking. The
sexual exploitation industry serves to satisfy the market. The details of
that aspect of trafficking were beyond the scope of this research.