Acknowledging that Fortaleza has a reputation inside Brazil and abroad for child prostitution, de Souza says the steep rise in complaints, or denuncias , of sexual exploitation reflects the success of regional authorities in raising awareness that this is a criminal act. Figures from the human rights secretariat show complaints rose from in to 2, in in Fortaleza. As a coastal area with all-year summer weather and high levels of poverty, Fortaleza certainly has the chief characteristics associated with sex tourism, but disentangling media hyperbole from the reality about the numbers of children involved is complex.
What is certain is that frontline workers have been seeing more children working as prostitutes as the city has attracted more tourists β Brazilians and foreigners. On their rounds tonight, Rodriguez and her co-workers spot a new girl with a group of prostitutes waiting at the corner of Juscelino Kubitschek Avenue. This time, the deal is unsuccessful and she returns to the group.
The NGO hands out condoms and advice, urging girls to come to their centre for classes and to arrange a medical check-up β perhaps even help to leave the streets.
But they must contend with parents who sometimes send their daughters there to make money. Campaigners acknowledge that some football fans and tourists may be duped into having sex with adolescents.
Werneck points out the efforts to tackle child sexual exploitation must focus on Brazilians, as well as foreigners. Research by the human rights secretariat in Ceara has shown that violations occur in non-tourist areas as well as those popular among visitors, according to de Souza. FIFA support. But she admits the World Cup holds particular risks. For the Street Child World Cup organisation, which will hold a tournament for street children from 19 countries in Rio de Janeiro before the FIFA event, increasing the visibility of street children and the dangers they face is vital to minimising risks of sexual exploitation.
