Brazilians strip off to expose violence against women

RIO DE JANEIRO: Topless, with slogans scrawled on their bare skin, feminist protesters in Rio made a colorful sight Saturday, yet their worries about horrific violence against women were deadly serious.

The 200 to 300 protesters from the international SlutWalk movement blocked traffic along Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beachfront avenue in various states of undress.

The raunchy tone is a key element of SlutWalk demonstrations, targeting what activists say is the widespread blaming of women for their own rape on the grounds that their behavior or clothing supposedly encouraged the assault.

“My body, my rules,” was the principal slogan.

“I can’t believe I’m fighting for this in 2015,” read another. But few placards were needed. Messages were inscribed with crayon or lipstick onto backs, stomachs, arms and breasts.

Some ignored Brazilian laws against toplessness, others circumvented the rule with a piece of sticky tape over the nipple, and the rest simply wore as little as possible, including one of the few men present, who wore only a sheet of transparent plastic.

Despite the party atmosphere, with samba dancing and excited whoops, Stephanie Ruas, 26, said the women were all there for grim reasons, including the fifth highest rate of murder of women in the world. — AFP