Over 7 million people have fled Venezuela due to a crippling socioeconomic crisis since 2015, with hundreds continuing to arrive daily in Brazil. These migrants must overcome extreme challenges, putting thousands at risk of falling prey to traffickers.
Organized crime, illegal gold mining, and the ongoing influx of migrants have made Roraima—Brazil’s northern state bordering Venezuela and Guyana—a hotspot for exploitation.
Brazil has partnered with the United Nations and international NGOs to launch Operação Acolhida (Operation Welcome), a groundbreaking humanitarian initiative in response to the migration crisis and critical to preventing human trafficking. This collaborative effort links the Brazilian government, military, police, U.N. agencies, NGOs, and migrant-led organizations in working together to identify and rescue those being trafficked.
In this reporting project, Reporting Fellow Julianna Deutscher exposes patterns of human trafficking in Brazil’s north and delves into the innovative programs combating this widespread issue.
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