MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Two Uruguayans held under slave-like conditions rescued in Brazil

The man had been working for nine years as a domestic employee and was forced to tattoo his employers' initials as a mark of ownership.

Two Uruguayans, a homosexual man and a trans woman, were rescued in Planura, in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, after years of slave-like conditions. Lured via social media with false job promises, they endured physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, including forced tattoos of their employers' initials. The man worked unregistered for nine years, while the trans woman, held for six months, suffered a stroke.

The Brazilian Ministry of Labor and Federal Police arrested three businessmen for human trafficking and labor exploitation. The victims, from vulnerable LGBT communities, are receiving medical care, and Uruguay is coordinating their repatriation. Over US$ 23 million is sought in compensation.

The operation, carried out between April 8 and 15 by the Brazilian Ministry of Labor and the Federal Police, led to the discovery of a homosexual man and a trans woman in a private prison. The man had been working for nine years as a domestic employee without formal registration and had been subjected to physical, sexual, and psychological violence. In addition, he was forced to tattoo his employers' initials as a mark of ownership.

Currently, the two victims are receiving medical attention as Uruguayan authorities are working on their return to their country. Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin said “the emergency mechanisms to face this type of situation have already been activated.”

“The Uruguayan ambassador in Brazil [Guillermo Valles] has already activated everything to facilitate the processes and be able to bring them quickly to our country,” Lubetkin also pointed out.