AMERICA/BRAZIL - Call to combat human trafficking: new forms of recruitment devised during the pandemic

Monday, 15 March 2021 human trafficking   coronavirus   politics   social situation   local churches   emigration  

Brasilia (Agenzia Fides) - Faced with the dramatic reality of human trafficking, aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Special Pastoral Episcopal Commission for the Fight against Human Trafficking of the Bishops' Conference of Brazil (CNBB) and the different realities that make up the "Enlarged Forum", published a pastoral Letter which challenges society.
"Human trafficking – indicates the letter sent to Fides - is a reality that mainly affects the most vulnerable people in society: women, young people, workers, the elderly, the disabled, that is, the most economically disadvantaged, especially children and adolescents who, according to a UN survey represent 30% of all victims of human trafficking. The Covid-19 pandemic is putting Brazil and the whole world under enormous pressure. It has exacerbated and brought to light the scandalous economic and social inequalities which are among the main causes of human trafficking: unemployment, poverty, hunger, reduction of expenditure for public policies, including those aimed at to face the different forms of this trafficking" .
In this context of social isolation, the letter points out, human traffickers have created new recruitment models especially through modern communication technologies. An example is to attract Venezuelan citizens who live in Brazil and those who are still in Venezuela through advertisements on the Internet and social media platforms by proposing to work in populous cities. These people thus become highly vulnerable to trafficking, for the purpose of sexual exploitation and slave labor. In addition, the borders closed due to the pandemic have intensified conflicts between police and immigrants. The situation of immigrants who were recently camped on the border between the State of Acre and Peru is also worrying. The signatories therefore underline that "the importance of continuing to treat immigrants arriving in Brazil with respect and giving them conditions worthy of reception, assistance and integration is obvious. The same principle applies to Brazilians in situations of internal migration in search of work and better living conditions".
The signatory organizations of the Letter therefore ask that the Brazilian authorities in the political and ecclesial field, commit themselves to creating mechanisms for the articulated work of government organizations and civil society to strengthen and improve the appropriate legal instruments to prevent human traffickers and recruiters to act with impunity during the pandemic. They also ask the different ecclesial realities to give priority to addressing these crimes against human life, committing themselves to formation.
Finally, the letter calls for a joint commitment to reduce social inequalities, responsible for fueling trafficking, and to guarantee the vaccine against Covid-19 for all Brazilians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 15/3/2021)


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