The U.S. Consulate General in São Paulo, with the support of The Exodus Road NGO and Techbiz, organized the International Conference on Human Trafficking and Related Crimes on May 6 and 7. The event aimed to unite experts dedicated to preventing, investigating, prosecuting these crimes, and supporting victims.
Participants included representatives from U.S. and Brazilian law enforcement agencies, judges, prosecutors, labor auditors, technology companies, airlines, and NGOs. The conference focused on key issues related to human trafficking and the smuggling of immigrants and refugees from each organization's perspective. Approximately 150 investigators, policymakers, judges, prosecutors, and representatives from private companies and the third sector attended from São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná, and Brasília.
A significant moment was the testimony of a human trafficking survivor who shared his experience of being deceived by a false job offer abroad that led to him being held in Myanmar by a criminal network.
"Human trafficking is a billion-dollar industry that is still underreported and often goes unnoticed. It is crucial to address this issue from a multifaceted perspective," stated Richard Glenn, U.S. Consul General in São Paulo.
The U.S. aims to improve its security while contributing to Brazilian safety through partnerships with local governments and civil society. This involves training national security forces in combating organized crime using tools and best practices. The conference forms part of these efforts by gathering experts to discuss human trafficking issues and how organized crime networks operate.