Some Brazilian women deported from Europe are victims of sex trafficking

16/04/2006 - 14h52

Irene Lôbo
Reporter - Agencia Brasil

Brasilia – Some of the Brazilian women who were deported from or not admitted to Europe are victims of international human trafficking for sexual exploitation purposes. This is the conclusion of the research entitled "Indícios de tráfico de pessoas no universo de deportadas e não admitidas que regressam ao Brasil via o aeroporto de Guarulhos."

The study was conducted in March and April 2005, at the international airport of Guarulhos, in the Southeastern state of São Paulo. 175 women answered questionnaires and 15 were interviewed. 76% of them were not admitted to their destination countries. Portugal led the countries with most refusals of Brazilian women, followed by Italy, France, Spain, and England.

The research also investigated the deported women. The majority is of humble origin, from the states of Goiás, Paraná and Minas Gerais (Central West, South, and Southeast regions respectively), with monthly income of up to three minimum wages (US$420.00). Ages varied between 25 and 40.

In 2004, according to the Federal Police, approximately 22.5 thousand Brazilian citizens were deported or not admitted to foreign countries. Of this total, 15 thousand reentered Brazil through the Guarulhos Airport, and 33% were women.

The research was ordered by the National Secretariat of Justice and by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC). Several federal organisms that operate on that airport contributed to the study, such as the Federal Police, the Federal Highway Police, the Federal Revenue and Customs Secretariat, the Brazilian Airport Infrastructure Company (Infraero), and the National Sanitary Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). The non-governmental organizations Brazilian Association of Women Defense (Associação Brasileira de Defesa da Mulher - ASBRAD), and Marginalized Women Service (Serviço da Mulher Marginalizada) also participated in the study.

Translation: Andréa Alves