Beijing Law Review, 2024, 15, 576-592
https://www.scirp.org/journal/blr
ISSN Online: 2159-4635
ISSN Print: 2159-4627
DOI: 10.4236/blr.2024.152036 Jun. 4, 2024 576 Beijing Law Review
Organized Crime and Illegal Adoption of
Vulnerable Brazilian Children: A Human
Rights Perspective
Arislene da Silva Almeida
1
, Vitor Hugo Souza Moraes
2
, Cássius Guimarães Chai
3,4
,
Monica Fontenelle Carneiro
5*
, Carlos Magno Alhakim Figueiredo Júnior
6,7,8
1
Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure (Prominas), São Luís, Brazil
2
Culture, Law and Society Research Group, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
3
Law Department (PPGDIR and PPGAERO), Social Sciences Center, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
4
Vitória School of Law (PPGD/FDV), Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
5
Letters Department (PPGL/SLZ; PPGL/Bacabal), Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), São Luís, Brazil
6
Public Notary, Espírito Santo, Brazil
7
Fundamental Rights (PPGD-FDV), Espírito Santo, Brazil
8
Law (UAL-PT), Lisbon, Portugal
Abstract
We study the international trafficking of Brazilian children for illegal adop-
tion, based on organized crime, considering not only that criminal organiza-
tions have improved in terms of such trafficking over the years but also that
illegal adoption is one of their purposes. Considering child trafficking as one
of the most common human market species, the research problem permeates
ways of combating the transnational organized crime of trading Brazilian
children for illegal adoption. This is because, despite efforts by the interna-
tional community, recent studies by the UNODC (2020) and IOM (2023)
show that the number of child victims of human trafficking has increased,
demonstrating how this phenomenon is multifaceted and complex, evolving
internally and across borders, employing increasingly specialized criminal
groups. The primary objective is to address the international trafficking of
Brazilian children as being more susceptible to commodification for illegal
adoption through organized crime. Thus, as specific objectives, we have the
following: 1) to analyze the regulation regarding international human traf-
ficking, as well as criminal organizations activities involving child trading; 2)
understand illegal adoption based on national legislation; and 3) ponder the
commodification of children in contradiction to children’s rights in Brazil.
The research is exploratory and dialectical, including data and information
*Pos-doctorate Fellow at Faculdade de Direito de Vitória (PPGD/FDV), Espírito Santo, Brazil.
How to cite this paper: da Silva Almeida,
A., Moraes, V. H. S., Chai, C. G., Carneiro,
M. F., & Figueiredo Jr., C. M. A. (2024).
Organized Crime and Illegal Adoption of
Vulnerable Brazilian Children: A Human
Rights Perspective. Beijing Law Review, 15,
576-592.
https://doi.org/10.4236/blr.2024.152036
Received: February 28, 2024
Accepted: June 1, 2024
Published: June 4, 2024
Copyright © 2024 by author(s) and
Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative
Commons Attribution International
License (CC BY 4.0).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Open Access