Tomoya Obokata, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, expressed his “enormous concern” this Friday about the continuity of practices similar to the slavery network in Brazil.
The expert highlighted that these issues are especially linked to sectors that drive environmental destruction in the Amazon.
After a twelve-day visit to the country, Obokata indicated that despite the existence of laws and policies to combat the problem, the rates of labor and sexual exploitation, work under conditions of slavery, and forced recruitment by organized crime remain high.
During a press conference, the rapporteur expressed being “deeply concerned” about the testimonies on modern forms of slavery that particularly affect indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, domestic workers, migrants, and refugees.
To gather information, Obokata met with Government officials, non-governmental organizations, and victims of slave labor in various cities, including Brasilia, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, and Marabá, the latter located in the Amazonian state of Pará.
Slavery network and environmental destruction
The expert emphasized that modern forms of slavery in Brazil are “closely linked” to environmental devastation, not only in the Amazon but also in other regions of the country.
“In the Amazon region, the slavery network, forced labor is an integral component of activities such as deforestation, cattle ranching, illegal mining, and timber trafficking,” stated the rapporteur. His full report will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2026.
The preliminary report points out that these practices not only directly promote deforestation but also disproportionately impact indigenous communities, quilombolas (descendants of African slaves), and other traditional populations.
These communities are displaced from their lands and are often forced to accept precarious jobs that trap them in cycles of exploitation.
The rapporteur also argues that the majority of victims of forced labor are Afro-descendant men and women, demonstrating “structural discrimination” based on race and gender.
Obokata points out that slavery-like conditions in Brazil are concentrated in areas such as agriculture (mainly in coffee and sugarcane crops), construction, mining, charcoal production, domestic service, and the hotel sector.
Exploitation of vulnerable populations and recommendations
In his report, the rapporteur also warns about the slavery network involving the exploitation suffered by immigrants and refugees. Unable to access the formal job market, they are hired in precarious conditions, especially in agricultural tasks and in the informal sector.
While acknowledging the policies and regulations that Brazil has implemented, the UN expert urged the country to intensify labor inspections, ensure that sanctions are proportional to the crime, and guarantee that there are accessible and culturally appropriate reporting mechanisms, especially for indigenous and rural communities.
Additionally, he called for greater protection for human rights and environmental defenders, who are often the targets of threats.
In conclusion, Obokata stated that despite the institutional advances, Brazil needs to “redouble efforts to eradicate the slavery network, a phenomenon that not only violates fundamental rights but also accelerates the destruction of one of the most crucial ecosystems on the planet“.
