CHILD AND ADOLESCENT EXPLOITATION IN THE MARAJÓ ISLANDS: STRUCTURAL VULNERABILITIES AND THE ROLE OF PUBLIC AUTHORITIES IN THE FACE OF INSTITUTIONAL OMISSION

Abstract

: Child and adolescent exploitation is one of the most serious violations of human rights, particularly in contexts marked by social vulnerability. In this scenario, Marajó Island, located in the state of Pará, Brazil, stands out due to the incidence of situations related to sexual exploitation, child labor, and other forms of violence against children and adolescents. This study aimed to analyze the phenomenon of child and adolescent exploitation in the Marajó Islands, emphasizing the structural vulnerabilities that contribute to the victimization of children and adolescents, as well as the State's response to the identified omissions. The research was characterized as descriptive and exploratory, with a qualitative approach, using the deductive method and bibliographic and documentary research procedures. Constitutional provisions, national legislation, international treaties on child protection, scientific articles, and studies addressing the social reality of Marajó were analyzed. The results demonstrated that, although Brazil has a broad legal framework for the protection of children and adolescents, limitations persist regarding the effectiveness of these guarantees in the region due to poverty, geographic isolation, insufficient public policies, and weaknesses in the Child and Adolescent Rights Protection System. It was found that child and adolescent sexual exploitation represents one of the main forms of rights violations identified in the archipelago, frequently associated with underreporting, socioeconomic vulnerability, and insufficient state presence. It is concluded that combating child and adolescent exploitation in Marajó requires permanent intersectoral actions, the strengthening of public policies, and the expansion of protection mechanisms capable of ensuring the effectiveness of the principles of comprehensive protection and absolute priority established in the Brazilian legal system.