WHEN ART DENOUNCES: HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND HUMAN DIGNITY IN REDEEMING LOVE

Abstract

This article presents a juridical analysis of the portrayal of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in the literary work Redeeming Love, by Francine Rivers. Human trafficking, as defined by the Palermo Protocol and the Brazilian Penal Code (Art. 149-A), constitutes a serious violation of fundamental human rights, directly affecting the principle of Human Dignity. Through an interdisciplinary qualitative approach, the research examines how the work represents recruitment, coercion, and exploitation — core elements of the crime — even without explicitly naming them. The study argues that art, particularly literature, plays a crucial role in revealing social invisibility, promoting awareness, and supporting the prevention and combat of this form of modern slavery. The results indicate that the narrative, by denouncing psychological domination and the objectification of women, reinforces the importance of the dialogue between Law and Art in the promotion of human rights awareness.