Promoting Longterm Support and Improved Outcomes for Brazilian Trafficking Survivors

In partnership with frontline anti-trafficking government actors and civil society organizations in Brazil, the Human Trafficking Data Lab is working to improve services and support for survivors of labor exploitation, a population uniquely vulnerable to continued exploitation when supportive services are out of reach. By piloting a trauma-informed, survivor-centered peer counseling program and modernizing Brazil’s Victim Case Management System (Integra VCMS), the Lab aims to improve post-trafficking outcomes for survivors and reduce the risk of (re)trafficking among vulnerable communities.

The Lab is partnering with the Centro de Defesa da Vida e dos Direitos Humano Carmen Bascarán (CDVDH/CB), which advocates for survivors of labor exploitation and other human rights abuse in the state of Maranhão, on a trauma-informed, survivor-centered peer counseling program. Because trafficking survivors are difficult to locate for post-rescue survivor assistance, the team advocates the integration of social workers or civil society advocates directly into rescue operations, addressing immediate needs for food and shelter, and connecting survivors to longer term support services right away. This has led to a dramatic increase in the percentage of survivors that receive assistance and remain engaged months later.

The Lab is also partnering with Ori Consultoria, working with frontline NGOs and government agencies to improve uptake and functionality of Integra VCMS. Together, our team works with both civil society advocates and government agencies to train frontline social workers in trafficking survivor outreach and to promote the use of a digital case management tool, Integra VCMS. Over the past year, the team has conducted in-person and hybrid trainings in 83 municipalities across Maranhão - a state that spans nearly 130,000 square miles. We have reached over 500 professionals within the state’s social assistance program, who are generally the first point of contact for trafficking survivors.

Such initiatives are essential: after exiting exploitative situations, survivors often grapple with obtaining holistic, quality care, including essential services. Proper support acts not just as a protective layer but is also pivotal for prevention, particularly given the high risk of re-trafficking.

Location: State of Maranhão, Brazil 

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