With World Cup soccer coming in 2014, Brazil has decided to try to clean up its reputation as a leader in sexual tourism, especially that involving children.

 

The nation’s human rights minister, Maria Nunes, has vowed to close down illegal businesses offering prostitutes to tourists. So far, police have identified at least 1,800 locales where children are being forced into prostitution. A dozen cities set to host World Cup games will be the first to have special law enforcement teams focused on the illicit practice.

 

Outside of the country, officials in the U.S. are working to disrupt the illegal sex business in Brazil. The Department of Justice is reportedly conducting a criminal investigation of sports fishing trips to the Amazon that may really be covers for Americans to have sex with underage girls.

 

“Brazil is taking over from Thailand as a premier sex tourism vacation” spot, Kristen Berg, an official of Equality Now, an advocacy organization in New York, told the New York Times.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Brazil Targets Child Prostitution Before Hosting 2014 World Cup, 2016 Olympics (Associated Press)

Allegations Link U.S. Companies to Brazilian Sex Tourism (by Barry Meier, New York Times)