The Slave Labor and Human Trafficking Clinic (CTETP) is a research, teaching, and outreach project affiliated with the Faculty of Law of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), coordinated by Prof. Carlos Henrique Borlido Haddad and Prof. Lívia Mendes Moreira Miraglia.

The project seeks to contribute to the fight against slave labor and human trafficking by providing free legal assistance to victims of these crimes, in addition to producing research, media content, and events to raise social awareness about these issues. Aiming to fulfill the tripartite foundation of Brazilian higher education, the Clinic is based on three inseparable pillars: teaching, research, and outreach.

Combining its practical experience with its previous research and deep expertise regarding Latin American specificities, the Clinic drew upon two of its studies published to produce this material: “Human Trafficking: A Latin American Perspective” and “International Human Trafficking: Crime in Motion, Justice on Hold – A needs assessment report on international human trafficking and related crimes.” (both written in Portuguese).

The choice of Latin America as the focus of this study is justified by its history, which is marked by profound social, economic, and racial inequalities resulting from a colonial past that still echoes in contemporary political and social structures. Furthermore, the region is characterized by intense migratory flows and a legislative plurality that, although frequently inspired by the same international instruments, presents significant divergences in its practical application.

Bearing this in mind, the general objective of this material is to provide a critical and in-depth analysis of the fight against human trafficking in Latin America. Based on a comparative study of national legislations, as well as international norms and guidelines, this work aims to identify best practices, common challenges, and institutional gaps that hinder the effective combat of this crime.