A passagem de vítimas de tráfico de seres humanos pelas instâncias de controlo formal

: perspetivas dos profissionais

Abstract

Human Trafficking is a criminal phenomenon that undermines the basic principles of a Democratic Rule of Law. The consequences for victims are devastating and require a set of combined, swift, and humane responses. Specifically, the Judicial and Police System must provide a qualified response, guaranteeing the fight against the phenomenon and, simultaneously, the victim's validation through a sensitive and empathetic approach, promoting their well-being and recovery. This study followed a qualitative approach, with 15 interviews carried out with professionals who, due to their profession, contact, directly or indirectly, with Human Trafficking victims, seeking to explore their perceptions about the passage of victims through formal control instances. The results showed the existence of a complex crime, with difficulties in terms of unveiling, the victims being mostly male and trafficked for labor exploitation and subject to various forms of coercion. From the work developed by the Judicial and Police System, positive aspects such as networking were highlighted; weaknesses were also pinpointed, such as the difficulty of obtaining and producing evidence and, finally, suggestions for improvement, as the need to increase procedural and bureaucratic agility.

Date of Award	24 Dec 2021
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Raquel Matos (Supervisor) & Mariana Barbosa (Co-Supervisor)