In a female imaginarium of Paraense Amazon, emigration is a dream which is not only part of a survival strategy, but also a search for the resignification of places, constructions, and imaginaries attributed to the “feminine” within the sexist, racialized, and heteronormative cultural heritage imposed within and on the region. Many of these dreams of living in a context free of violence: they dream of having a nice house, healthy children, and a kind husband. Others dream of earning lots of money by working as prostitutes, dancers, or in any profession that allows them to fulfill their dreams of wealth. All have heard stories of successful women who emigrated and now own cars, expensive clothes, and their own homes. They have heard of strong prospects connected to major commercial projects in the Amazon, but are unsure of how to travel there, since many of these sites (such as mineral and gold mines) are difficult to access. They have already heard that “out in the world,” their exoticism is worth money. Others, meanwhile, have heard stories of people who were enslaved, imprisoned, deported, or killed. However, they are willing to try their luck, believing the risk to be worthwhile. They know how difficult it is to leave Brazil, apply for a passport, negotiate in another language and another currency, confront complex and demanding bureaucracies and rigid, restrictive legislation. They believe that if they tried to emigrate alone, with the support of someone experienced, they would probably not succeed. In these situations, someone appears claiming to have experience and offering to provide everything, as if with the simple touch of a magic wand…
Human trafficking, and especially the female trafficking for sexual exploration – which includes women, transvestites and transgender is a violation of human rights in the context of migration. It is also, according to the United Nations, the third most lucrative illicit practice on the planet, after drug and arms trafficking. It is multifaceted, marked by a double regulation: that of capitalism and that of identity, and its finality is always slave labor, including servile marriage and forced prostitution. The context of human trafficking goes beyond the criminal sphere, and is pervaded by questions of culture and gender. Combating it demands the recognition of democratic diversity, the right to non-discrimination, and the parameters of human rights. Its work means about this question, when the traffic finality is a forced prostitution (slavery work type), considering the Paraense Amazônia context.
|
