Selling sex for gold in the Amazon's illegal mines

In the northern part of Brazil, particularly in a town called Itaituba, many women are facing difficult choices due to the illegal gold mining industry. One such woman is Dayane Leite, who began her journey in this harsh world at the tender age of 12. Dayane never aspired to become a sex worker, but her life took a tragic turn when her husband passed away from a heart attack when she was just 17. With no money to pay for his funeral, a friend suggested that she could earn the necessary funds by engaging in sexual activities with miners deep in the Amazon rainforest. Dayane described her experience by saying, 'Going to the mines is a roll of the dice,' highlighting the inherent risks and dangers involved. Women who venture into these mines often endure severe humiliation and mistreatment. Dayane recounted a terrifying incident where a man broke into her home, brandishing a gun. She stated, 'If they pay, they want to own the women. ' Despite the dangers, Dayane managed to gather enough money for her husband's funeral, and shortly after, she welcomed her first child into the world. For the past 16 years, she has been returning to the mines to work various jobs, including cooking, washing clothes, serving drinks, and sometimes engaging in sex work. Now, she has a family of seven to support, and her experiences in the mines have shaped her life significantly. Another woman, Natalia Cavalcante, also found herself involved in this challenging lifestyle. She began her journey as a sex worker at the age of 24 in a remote mining settlement. Four years later, after marrying the owner of a bar, she became the madam of a brothel. Natalia explained, 'I'm not going to say that all the women in the city do it, but a fair share of them do sex work. So it’s kind of normal. We don’t really care. ' Life in these mining villages is incredibly tough. Most of them consist of little more than dirt paths, a few saloon bars, and a church. The miners themselves live in makeshift shacks made of wood and canvas, surrounded by the dangers of the rainforest, including snakes and jaguars. When the miners strike gold, they come to the village to spend their earnings, and sometimes the women have to convince them to clean themselves before engaging in sexual activities. Although running a brothel is illegal in Brazil, Natalia claimed that she did not take any commission from the women. Instead, she employed bar staff and rented out rooms. Many young women would reach out to her for job opportunities, and she sometimes lent them money for the long journey from Itaituba, which could take up to seven hours. The Brazilian government estimates that there are between 80,000 and 800,000 men working in illegal mines across the country. When asked about her feelings regarding involving other women in this line of work, Natalia expressed her concerns. She said, 'Sometimes I think: ‘I’ve been through that, and I know it’s not that nice. ’ But then I think: ‘The girl has a family, sometimes a child to raise. ' This illustrates the difficult choices these women must make in order to survive. Natalia has managed to accumulate a significant amount of wealth from her work. She now owns a house in Itaituba, has a motorbike, and possesses considerable amounts of gold, which she sometimes receives as payment for her services. Her aspirations include furthering her education to become a lawyer or an architect. Some women in Itaituba, often referred to as Gold Nugget City, have even started their own businesses with the money they earned. However, venturing into the violent and lawless mining settlements poses a significant risk for women. While the environmental damage caused by illegal mining is well-documented, the human cost, which includes violence, sexual exploitation, and trafficking, often goes unnoticed. A precious metals dealer revealed to the BBC that the illegal gold extracted from these mines is frequently disguised as gold sourced from licensed mining cooperatives before being exported and transformed into jewelry and components for electronic devices. The primary consumers of Brazilian gold are Canada, Switzerland, and the UK, with over 90% of all exports to Europe originating from regions where illegal mining occurs. Tragically, the dangers faced by women in these mining villages can lead to fatal outcomes. For instance, Raiele Santos, a 26-year-old woman, was found dead after she refused a man's offer for sex. Her sister, Railane, lamented, 'A lot of women die on a daily basis. ' This stark reality underscores the perilous conditions women endure in these areas. The land occupied by Brazil's illegal gold mines has more than doubled in the past decade, now covering an area larger than Greater London. The exact number of women working in these mines remains unknown, as does the total number of illegal miners. The Brazilian government has taken steps to shut down illegal mines and prevent dealers from purchasing the gold produced there, but the allure of high gold prices continues to draw many men to seek their fortunes in the mines. Dayane, who wishes to leave the mining areas due to the physical toll it takes on her body, is planning one final trip to earn enough money to open a snack bar upon her return. She often worries about her children when she is alone in the forest. Dayane expressed her determination, saying, 'I will keep trying, until I can’t any more. ' She hopes that one day her children will recognize the sacrifices she made for them and appreciate her unwavering perseverance.