Dealing With Brazil’s Sex Trade

Adult (over 18) prostitution is not a crime in Brazil.  Law books I read on the topic while living in Brazil tend to agree that this can be considered a moral problem, but it is not a crime in a strict, legal sense.  The difficulty with this position is that what plays out in reality is not always a straightforward business transaction between consenting adults.

While teaching English in Brazil one of my students explained that a former classmate was a “garota de programa.”  The rough translation of that would be “program girl,” I suppose.  Sexual services are described as a “program.”  He talked about how she had a boyfriend and he was perfectly okay with what she did, going on to explain that she was a “high class” prostitute who could command top money and pick-and-choose her clients.  To my student’s mind it was all fine.

Although I agree (brace yourselves) that prostitution in and of itself should not be considered a crime before human law, it is very clearly a violation of the will of God.  People were made for committed, on-going heterosexual relationships.  Doing otherwise not only goes against what God has revealed to humanity, but is harmful to the well-being of the individual.

“Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself.” - 1 Corinthians 6:18 NRSV

What damage “consenting adults” do to the detriment of themselves and, by extension, their families through engaging in illicit sex is ultimately in their hands to resolve.  Things become more complicated when underage children enter the sex trade.

As I shared recently on this blog, child prostitution is a serious problem in parts of Brazil.  In a permissive and even promiscuous culture that glorifies sex in every way, situated in a climate that encourages wearing less rather than more, young girls from poor backgrounds in particular can easily be tempted into making quick money in exchange for sex acts.  For some it is an addiction to drugs that drives them, even at an early age.  For others it may represent the possibility of meeting a well-to-do man (perhaps even from another country) who will take care of her.  Whatever the specifics, in the eyes of many girls the best opportunity they can see around themselves involves sex.

What can be done to address and resolve the enormous challenge children in the Brazilian sex trade represents?  I can think of a few steps to begin:

• The Good News that the crucified and resurrected Jesus is Lord, and that through him complete forgiveness, redemption and restoration can be provided to anyone.
• Technical and vocational education, both in the schools and in extra-curricular academic programs, perhaps arranged in partnership with local schools and/or community groups, as well as programs that focus on preparing underprivileged students for the governmental college entrance exams that can afford them free admittance and tuition to a public university.
• Counseling, especially from a Christian perspective, focused on rebuilding the family (the family being recognized as the most basic unit of society) as well as restoring individual dignity after the image of God.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” - John 8:36 ESV