Human Trafficking in South America

Human trafficking in South America affects an estimated 2.5 million people, with Brazil alone accounting for over 1 million victims. Women and girls represent over 60% of identified victims, especially in sex trafficking cases. Children are widely involved in forced labor, with thousands exploited in mining, agriculture, and informal services across countries like Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia. Most victims are nationals of their own country, moved from rural or impoverished areas to urban centers or industrial zones.

Cross-border trafficking often follows migration routes. The displacement of 7.7 million Venezuelans has increased exploitation risks across Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil. Victims from Bolivia, Paraguay, and Peru are frequently trafficked to Argentina and Chile, mainly for sexual exploitation and low-wage labor. Between 2008 and 2016, Argentina reported over 10,000 trafficking victims, many from within the country but also from neighboring states. Migrant men are also trafficked across borders for forced labor in agriculture, construction, and mining, with limited protections and oversight.

The Amazon region contains overlapping forced labor and sexual exploitation zones, particularly in illegal gold mining areas. These crimes are facilitated by limited state oversight, minimal law enforcement presence, and widespread poverty. Despite the presence of national laws criminalizing trafficking in all South American countries, weak implementation and low conviction rates hinder enforcement, and the true scale of trafficking remains underreported.