Oiapoque student wins national science award for human trafficking research

Dhonato Brito, an 18-year-old student from the Joaquim Nabuco State School in Oiapoque, Amapá, has won a national award at the Brazilian Scientific Initiation Fair (Febic) held in Joinville, Santa Catarina.

His research, titled ‘Human Trafficking in the Extreme North of the Black Amazon: the false development that goes alongside destruction’, focused on the reality of human trafficking in the northern Amazon region. To develop the project, Brito conducted field visits and interviewed residents of the Manga indigenous community. The study was inspired by a real-life human trafficking case he became aware of in his municipality.

Winning in the ‘Protection and Defense of Children and Adolescents’ category, Brito has earned a credential to represent Brazil at an international science fair in Argentina. This marks his second consecutive year participating in the Febic event.