From Brazil to the World: EmpowerPath Solutions Emerges as One of Latin America’s Largest Initiatives Against Human Trafficking

Human trafficking remains one of the most profitable and devastating crimes in the world — and Latin America is among the hardest-hit regions. Confronted with this reality, Alexsandro Paes Leite, a veteran civil police investigator from São Paulo and longtime Methodist pastor, created EmpowerPath Solutions, now recognized as one of Latin America’s largest initiatives focused on the reintegration of trafficking and gender-violence survivors.

Headquartered in Brazil and expanding into the United States, EmpowerPath Solutions combines humanitarian care, legal assistance, professional training, and data-driven intelligence to combat trafficking in all its forms. The idea was born from Leite’s daily encounters with victims during his years at the Women’s Defense Station Online — encounters that revealed how urgent it was to go beyond rescue and provide long-term restoration.

“The project was inspired by real cases — women who didn’t just need a police report, they needed a future,” says Leite.

EmpowerPath’s model integrates psychological and spiritual counseling, job-readiness programs, corporate ethics compliance, and cross-border law-enforcement partnerships. With the support of both public institutions and private organizations, it has become a continental reference in merging public safety and social inclusion.

According to the United Nations, over 27 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking, and more than 60 percent of reported cases in Latin America involve women and children. Against this alarming backdrop, EmpowerPath Solutions has achieved tangible results, helping numerous survivors find employment and rebuild their lives with dignity.

The project also works directly with Latin American corporations to establish ethical-labor certifications through the EmpowerPath Compliance Seal, ensuring transparent and exploitation-free supply chains.

For Leite, the initiative’s significance extends far beyond national borders: “EmpowerPath was born in Brazil, but it carries a continental vision. Latin America must become a global leader in the fight against human trafficking.”

Drawing inspiration from Brazil’s landmark Maria da Penha Law — one of the world’s most comprehensive frameworks for protecting women — Leite has built a legacy that merges compassion, law enforcement, and innovation. Today, EmpowerPath Solutions solidifies Brazil’s position as a Latin American hub of excellence in combating gender-based violence and human trafficking, projecting local experience onto the global stage.