THE DRAMA OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING INVOLVING WOMEN AND GIRLS: THE HOTSPOTS AREAS AND BRAZIL’S LEGISLATION

Abstract

The present study presents a discussion on human trafficking of women and female children, which occurs mostly for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The general objective is to analyze the internal and external trafficking of persons in Brazil, with specific objectives to map the hotspot areas of trafficking of women and female children; to study the necessary measures to combat this crime; and to examine human trafficking in light of Brazilian legislation. To this end, the deductive and bibliographic methods were used based on articles from the WoS (Web of Science) and the Chicago Press databases. The approach method was mixed, as the research was based on data from the Brazilian report on human trafficking, IPEA data, and the Brazilian forum on public security. It was determined that women and girls are easy targets, given their greater social and economic vulnerability. From the mapping of the hotspot zones in Brazil, it was found that the state of Minas Gerais leads in the ranking. The Brazilian criminal legislation that addresses trafficking underwent a revision in 2016, when legislators began treating the criminal conduct under examination in a more comprehensive way, according to International Resolution no. 217a, of the III United Nations General Assembly of 10.12.1948 and signed by Brazil on the same date. Furthermore, preventive measures must be adopted by the Brazilian State in order to curb the rates of this offense. As the crime of human trafficking is a transnational conduct, it requires greater cooperation between countries.