Rio making carnival safer for women
Women blame sexual attacks by men to a mix of alcohol and machismo
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) — Avoid being alone in a crowd, opt for canned drinks over potentially drugged cocktails, scan a QR code to access emergency resources — as Rio enters carnival season, there has been a flood of advice on how women can stay safe.
The “cidade maravilhosa,” or wonderful city of Rio, on Friday officially inaugurated its emblematic festival, becoming the scene of countless street parties, the traditional “blocos” that can draw hundreds of thousands of people.
But there is a dark underside to all the joyful dancing, partying and music: a surge in cases of sexual harassment and rape.
A recent survey by the Locomotiva Research Institute found that 73 percent of women in Brazil fear being sexually harassed during the public celebrations.
The January poll of 1,500 people found that 50 percent of women surveyed said they had suffered some form of aggression in previous carnivals.
The simple explanation: alcohol and machismo, Erica Paes, a women’s safety specialist, told Agence France-Presse.
“Men believe they have rights and power over the woman’s body,” said Paes, who is also a world champion in Mixed Martial Arts.
She created and coordinates the state government’s Empoderadas (Empowered) program, which recently redoubled its efforts to inform women on how stay safe and — if they are the victim of violence — where to find help.
“Awareness today is women’s best protection, so they know that they could be victims of violence and that they have someone to turn to for help,” Paes said.
‘No is no’
In December, Brazil approved the “No Is No” law, which established a mandatory protocol in entertainment spaces to protect victims of abuse, encourage complaints and preserve possible evidence.
“Let’s spread life-saving information and reinforce the idea that after someone says ‘No,’ it’s harassment,” Joyce Trindade of the Women’s Secretariat in Rio prefecture said in a statement.
Her group is responsible for the “Carnaval+Seguro” (“Carnival+Security”) campaign.
This year there will be care stations in key locations for women who are attacked or feel endangered. And QR codes in four languages, with information on how to find help, are posted in many public places.
Empoderadas team members will also be present on some buses, trams and subway cars, which can be extremely crowded during carnival.
One important rule they offer: If you’re going to drink, be sure it is with a group of friends.