BRAZIL Confronting an "Invisible" Issue

...I feelfeel calmer just coming here," said calmer just coming here," said Eliete,Eliete, who was referred to the down who was referred to the downtowntown Rio Delegacia by policemen in Rio Delegacia by policemen in her neighborhood...

...According to Detective Inspector Mary cording to Detective Inspector Mary May da Silva, who investigates May da Silva, who investigates charges brought at the Rio Delegacia, charges brought at the Rio Delegacia, batterers and rapists are almost never batterers and rapists are almost never arrestedarrested on the scene of the crime in on the scene of the crime in Brazil...

...In the state of Sao Paulo alone, there are 24...

...The success of the first Women's The success of the first Women's Police Stations spurred middle class Police Stations spurred middle class feminists and poor and working feminists and poor and working women to demand Delegacias in women to demand Delegacias in towns and cities all over Brazil...

...This place has moremore humanity...

...a woman...

...She claims that over half of the women she sees at the over half of the women she sees at the RioRio Delegacia are educated and have Delegaciaare educated and have their own incomes...

...in Rio de Janeiro, disagrees...

...WomenWomen like Eliete find that just like Eliete find that just filing a complaint can win them new filing a complaint can win them new bargainingbargaining power in an abusive rela power in an abusive relationship...

...people in this country," says Arruda...

...That's why they've grown," says That's why they've grown," says Branca Moreira Alves, president of the Branca Moreira Alves, president of the Rio de Janeiro State Women's Rights Rio de Janeiro State Women's Rights Council...

...Escaping an abu their own incomes...

...InIn large cities all over Brazil, holi large cities all over Brazil, holiday weekends are notorious for pro day weekends are notorious for producing the kind of tensions that ex ducing the kind of tensions that explodeplode in domestic violence...

...in the rest of Brazil a gubernatorial decree can of Brazil a gubernatorial decree can disbanddisband the stations as quickly as they the stations as quickly as they were set up...

...If itit were that way here, there wouldn't were that way here, there wouldn't be a prison big enough to hold every be a prison big enough to hold everyone," chuckles the white haired 45 one," chuckles the white haired 45 year veteran of the Rio police force...

...The model has caught on their worth...

...Her of their six year old boy...

...If they hadn't worked, Council...

...murder or beating...

...is a constant...

...and more conservative Northeast...

...He'll be furious," reaction...

...Broxado also discards the theory zil...

...humanity...

...The first to confront the problem...

...need to give women special treatment...

...The first Delegacia da Muiher opened its doors Delegacia da Mulher opened its doors in downtown Sao Paulo on August 6, in downtown Sdo Paulo on August 6, 1985, to receive female victims of bat 1985, to receive female victims of battering, rape and other crimes...

...groups in response to a series of shocking murders sponse to a series of shocking murders of womenof women by husbands or boyfriends by husbands or boyfriends who were acquitted or received outra who were acquitted or received outrageouslygeously light prison sentences...

...It is the morning after Carnival in It is the morning after Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, and the all femaleRio de Janeiro, and the all female staff staff of the downtown Women's Police Sta of the downtown Women's Police Stationtion is bracing itself for a day of brisk is bracing itself for a day of brisk business...

...The Delegacias da da Muiher Mulher are are aa practical attempt to practical attempt to change and humanize the police," says change and humanize the police," says Lucia Arruda, a Rio de Janeiro state Lucia Arruda, a Rio de Janeiro state congresswoman...

...Setting up special police stations for women seemed a logical way tions for women seemed a logical way to confront the problem...

...So far Rio cias is by no means secure...

...True, with the first men that the True, with the first men that the DelegaciaDelegacia prosecuted, many male (and prosecuted, many male (and female) police officers and several female) police officers and several conservative politicians questioned the conservative politicians questioned the need to give women special treatment...

...The first time in the country's history...

...Popular Reaction Popular Reaction Once civilians returned to office in Once civilians returned to office in 1985, feminists demanded action on 1985, feminists demanded action on the particular issue of violence against the particular issue of violence against women...

...At a time when Brazilians feel par At a time when Brazilians feel particularly disillusioned with authority, ticularly disillusioned with authority, when police brutality is as endemic as when police brutality is as endemic as it was during the dictatorship, the it was during the dictatorship, the Women's Police Stations are a wel Women's Police Stations are a welcome exception...

...We'We can't associate violence against can't associate violence against women with poverty or ignorance," women with poverty or ignorance," arguesargues Broxado...

...While some feminists fight to While some feminists fight to eradicate discriminatory language eradicate discriminatory language from the lawbooks, others want to put from the lawbooks, others want to put teeth into the article of the new na teeth into the article of the new national constitution which makes the tional constitution which makes the state responsible for creating mecha state responsible for creating mechanisms to discourage domestic violence...

...In the inland city of warrant...

...nisms to discourage domestic violence...

...The Delegacias' effec prisonment...

...Major much media attention...

...In Brazil, femininity is synonymous with Brazil, femininity is synonymous with obedience, servility and being boaz obedience, servility and being boaz inha [a good little girl...

...woman's word...

...Serious treatment from detectivestectives and social workers can also and social workers can also help restore a victim's self esteem...

...Mulher, a Rio de Janeiro center for female vic Rio de Janeiro center for female victimstims of violence...

...TheThe feminist movement also de feminist movement also denouncednounced the glaring insensitivity of the glaring insensitivity of male police officers towards raped and male police officers towards raped and battered women, as well as their reluc battered women, as well as their reluctance to prosecute repeat offenders or tance to prosecute repeat offenders or take a female victim's testimony seri take a female victim's testimony seriously...

...Most feminists are convinced that violence will only are convinced that violence will only decline when Brazilians begin to dis decline when Brazilians begin to discard traditional, machista attitudes card traditional, machista attitudes toward women.toward women...

...rape, intimidation and abandonment...

...Here"Here in Brazil, no one respected a in Brazil, no one respected a woman's word...

...In the inland city of Belo Horizonte, seven young police Belo Horizonte, seven young policewomen run the Delegacia da Muiher women run the Delegacia da Mulher jointly but have trained a male "sup jointly but have trained a male "support team" to arrest and bring in sus port team" to arrest and bring in suspects...

...Unfortunately, no one in Brazil Unfortunately, no one in Brazil seemsseems to possess systematic informa to possess systematic information on the number of battering or rape tion on the number of battering or rape cases that end in conviction and im cases that end in conviction and imprisonment...

...had come to the station for help...

...Through in domestic violence...

...The Delegacias' effectiveness is perhaps better measured by tiveness is perhaps better measured by their capacity to provide immediate their capacity to provide immediate supportsupport toto victimsvictims and to and to intimidate ifintimidate if not punish both not punish both would be and repeat offenders...

...The DelegaciasDelegacias have also provided Brazil have also provided Brazil ian women with a critical space in ian women with a critical space in which to participate in the democratic which to participate in the democratic process...

...sion of domestic violence in Brazil...

...I help restore a victim's self esteem...

...The next most frequent crime The next most frequent crime reported is rape, followed by attempted reported is rape, followed by attempted rape, intimidation and abandonment...

...If they hadn't worked, women wouldn't be asking for them...

...Half of the women who come in Half of the women who come in actually press charges against offend actually press charges against offenders...

...Effectiveness Effectiveness How effective are the Women's How effective are the Women's PolicePolice Stations in curbing violence Stations in curbing violence againstagainst women and putting offenders women and putting offenders in jail?in jail...

...In a number of their fate...

...If prisoned during the investigation...

...economic, pressures...

...tions are actually headed by men...

...work...

...The Brazilian penal code, written in 1940, Brazilian penal code, written in 1940, considers rape to be a "crime against considers rape to be a "crime against custom" and not against the individ custom" and not against the individual...

...Throughout the country, the policewomen who out the country, the policewomen who runrun the 69 Delegacias de Policia de the 69 Delegacias de Policia de Defesa da Muiher (Police Stations in Defesa da Mulher (Police Stations in DefenseDefense of Women) have learned to of Women) have learned to expect Monday crowds...

...Their complaints were drowned out by Their complaints were drowned out by a chorus of approval from human a chorus of approval from human rights and feminist groups, progres rights and feminist groups, progressive politicians and the women who sive politicians and the women who had come to the station for help...

...cently emerged from military rule...

...But this time, he went too far...

...Mostly poor people Broxado...

...Crimes against property are ously...

...So far Rio de Janeiro is the only state to have de Janeiro is the only state to have written them into state law...

...those who do not are referred to an ers...

...He thinks twice "is afraid...

...This place has her neighborhood...

...At first only a handful of business...

...Only rarely are suspects im Brazil...

...Some of themof them bring small children in tow...

...those who do not are referred to an in housein house social worker...

...Young, blond, manicured and Young, blond, manicured and articulate,articulate, "Doutora Rosy" is an ac "Doutora Rosy" is an accessiblecessible figure in a society which still figure in a society which still considersconsiders femininity to be a woman's femininity to be a woman's highest calling...

...year veteran of the Rio police force...

...In 1988, as one of six stations in the Sao Paulo metro six stations in the Sdo Paulo metropolitan area, the same Delegacia re politan area, the same Delegacia received nearly 7,000 women...

...highest calling...

...Mostly poor people come to the Women's Police Stations come to the Women's Police Stations because they are the majority in Bra because they are the majority in Bra zil...

...Major Brazilian newspapers assign reporters Brazilian newspapers assign reporters to cover the Delegacias as a regular to cover the Delegacias as a regular beat,beat, and Police Chief Rosemary Cor and Police Chief Rosemary Cor rea, who runs the downtownrea, who runs the downtown Sao Paulo Sdo Paulo station, appears frequently on TV and station, appears frequently on TV and radio.radio...

...Ac only follows conviction...

...Escaping an abusive relationship is difficult because of sive relationship is difficult because of emotional and cultural, rather than emotional and cultural, rather than economic, pressures...

...At first only a handful of women trickle in to file complaints women trickle in to file complaints againstagainst husbands or boyfriends...

...The"The question of violence united the question of violence united the whole country," recalls Arruda, who whole country," recalls Arruda, who in 1980 co founded S.O.S...

...Rosivalda,Rosivalda, newly separated, wants newly separated, wants to report her husband'sto report her husband's threats to seize threats to seize custodycustody of their six year old boy...

...TheThe press and some members of the press and some members of the policepolice force have made a hasty con force have made a hasty connectionnection between poverty, alcoholism between poverty, alcoholism andand wife battering, since many of the wife battering, since many of the women who frequent the Women's women who frequent the Women's Police Stations are poor...

...movement added its voice...

...Elizabeth Station is a journalist and Elizabeth Station is a journalist and translator based in Rio de Janeiro...

...But this time, he went ete explains...

...Muiher, a in 1980 co founded S.O.S...

...says...

...By noon, the benches that line the Rio station's dim benches that line the Rio station's dim waiting room will be full...

...Setting up special police sta women...

...The down services has also increased...

...After detectives investigate the charges made, a judge decides if charges made, a judge decides if enough evidence exists to bring the enough evidence exists to bring the case to court...

...Many observ to understand its causes...

...translator based in Rio de Janeiro...

...The Women's Police Stations are "The Women's Police Stations are a political answer to pressure from a political answer to pressure from womenwomen at the very bottom of society...

...As a result, the defense lawyer who canwho can show that the victim failed to show that the victim failed to conform to traditional moral stere conform to traditional moral stereotypes (loving mother, good house otypes (loving mother, good housekeeper, uncomplaining wife) can often keeper, uncomplaining wife) can often get a rapist off the hook...

...All over Brazil, feminists founded S.O.S...

...By noon, the expect Monday crowds...

...During a typical 24 hour shift, the During a typical 24 hour shift, the downtown Sao Paulo station receives downtown Sdo Paulo station receives about 80 women, 80% of whom have about 80 women, 80% of whom have come to report cases of domestic vio come to report cases of domestic violence.lence...

...Raped or in social worker...

...In the every Brazilian state but one...

...The Women's Police Stations are The Women's Police Stations are also prompting attempts to analyze also prompting attempts to analyze violenceviolence against women in Brazil and against women in Brazil and to understand its causes...

...towns and cities all over Brazil...

...groups in re nists founded S.O.S...

...congresswoman...

...Yet social Police Stations are poor...

...The number of women seeking The number of women seeking services has also increased...

...The victims it served, however, praised the victims it served, however, praised the sensitivity and accessibility of the po sensitivity and accessibility of the policewomen who ran the station...

...Their work has forced the dis process...

...She claims that now the man who batterswho batters "is afraid...

...their complaints...

...He'll be furious," sheshe says...

...Crimes against property are punished more than crimes against punished more than crimes against people in this country," says Arruda...

...All over Brazil, femi of violence...

...He thinks twice before beatingbefore beating a woman...

...Congresswoman Arruda main guay...

...Economic Council, concurs...

...OffendersOffenders can be arrested at any can be arrested at any stepstep in the process, but imprisonment in the process, but imprisonment usuallyusually only follows conviction...

...And government funding for all public And government funding for all public services, including the police force, services, including the police force, willwill remain scarce as long as Brazil's remain scarce as long as Brazil's economic crisis continues...

...Although tering, rape and other crimes...

...The model has caught on inin Spain, Peru, Argentina and Uru Spain, Peru, Argentina and Uru guay...

...As a result, the defense lawyer ual...

...Although political pres were set up...

...Traditional misconceptions and Traditional misconceptions and prejudicesprejudices still characterize the discus still characterize the discussion of domestic violence in Brazil...

...What does nor is it unique to Brazil...

...The Delegacias come exception...

...I wanted they share in a Rio suburb...

...Their work has forced the discussion of violence against women to cussion of violence against women to move from the private to the public move from the private to the public sphere, giving high and probably per sphere, giving high and probably permanent visibility to what was once an manent visibility to what was once an "invisible" issue...

...So far, policewomen are not demanding to be put on patrol, though demanding to be put on patrol, though many complain that they did not join many complain that they did not join the force to do clerical and counseling the force to do clerical and counseling work...

...ManyMany activists believe that even the activists believe that even the battle with the police is not yet won...

...Women's Police Stations now exist in Women's Police Stations now exist in every Brazilian state but one...

...waiting room will be full...

...Raped or injuredjured women planning to file a com women planning to file a complaint must undergoplaint must undergo a medical exami a medical examination...

...Cases of repetitionof repetition exist, but they are few," exist, but they are few," says Silvana Francolin, assistant po says Silvana Francolin, assistant policelice chief at the downtown Sao Paulo chief at the downtown Sdo Paulo station...

...Some husbands or boyfriends...

...Most agree that while violence Most agree that while violence may be on the rise, the Delegacias' may be on the rise, the Delegacias' caseloads are growing because for the caseloads are growing because for the first time,first time, women have a place to take women have a place to take their complaints...

...light prison sentences...

...In a number of famous recent cases, judges insinuated famous recent cases, judges insinuated that women who stayed out late, dated that women who stayed out late, dated more than one man or separated from more than one man or separated from husbands without prior consent had husbands without prior consent had somehow "provoked" their own rape, somehow "provoked" their own rape, murder or beating...

...Being Boazinha Being Boazinha If the causes of violence against If the causes of violence against women are similar in any sexist soci women are similar in any sexist society, certain characteristics of the prob ety, certain characteristics of the problem are unique to Brazil and will not lem are unique to Brazil and will not disappear with the implantation of disappear with the implantation of special police stations...

...Serious treatment from de tionship...

...When arrests do take place or a When arrests do take place or a suspect is called in for questioning, suspect is called in for questioning, male rather than female officers de male rather than female officers deliver theliver the warrant...

...The rapid growth of the Women's The rapid growth of the Women's Police StationsPolice Stations and the human dramas and the human dramas unfoldingunfolding there have naturally at there have naturally attractedtracted much media attention...

...The courages sexism and impunity...

...licewomen who ran the station...

...get a rapist off the hook...

...The and not the women's movement...

...Her mother and son accompany her and, mother and son accompany her and, although Rosivalda has never taken a although Rosivalda has never taken a complaintcomplaint to the Women's Police Sta to the Womnen's Police Stationtion before, she can predict her hus before, she can predict her husband'sband's reaction...

...In criminal cases where the victim is a criminal cases where the victim is a woman, it is extremely common for woman, it is extremely common for defense lawyers to argue that victims defense lawyers to argue that victims "deserved""deserved" their fate...

...case to court...

...too far...

...ceived nearly 7,000 women...

...What does seem remarkable is that the seem remarkable is that the Delegacias conceivedDelegacias conceived and run by and run by women to receive and investigate women to receive and investigate criminal cases for women exist and criminal cases for women exist and flourish in a society that has so re flourish in a society that has so recently emerged from military rule...

...Moreover, the future of the Delega Moreover, the future of the Delega cias is by no means secure...

...In through the Brazilian court system...

...The downtown Sao Paulo station saw 2,038 town Sdo Paulo station saw 2,038 women during its first year in opera women during its first year in operation, when it was the only Delegacia tion, when it was the only Delegacia da Muiher in Brazil...

...women wouldn't be asking for them...

...Broxado also discards the theory thatthat battered women are hesitant to battered women are hesitant to leaveleave their husbands because of eco their husbands because of economic dependence...

...Cases would be and repeat offenders...

...She claims that now the man station...

...invisible" issue...

...at the very bottom of society...

...Women are raised to "Women are raised to be nobodies here," says Broxado...

...Most feminists special police stations...

...In 1988, as one of da Mulher in Brazil...

...Congresswoman Arruda maintains that the most important contribu tains that the most important contribution of the Women's Police Stations is tion of the Women's Police Stations is to give the Brazilian police a construc to give the Brazilian police a constructive, rather than repressive, role for the tive, rather than repressive, role for the first time in the country's history...

...DespiteDespite all these difficulties, the all these difficulties, the Women'sWomen's Police Stations have proven Police Stations have proven their worth...

...Although political pressure from organized women's com sure from organized women's community groups makes such a scenario munity groups makes such a scenario unlikely in Brazil's largest cities, re unlikely in Brazil's largest cities, resistance to the Delegacias runs high in sistance to the Delegaciasruns high in thethe medium sized capitals of the inte medium sized capitals of the interiorrior and more conservative Northeast...

...The Sao Paulo station's early work The Sdo Paulo station's early work drew a largely favorable reaction...

...Traditional prejudices are also ram Traditional prejudices are also rampant at the institutional level, with par pant at the institutional level, with particularly dire consequences for women ticularly dire consequences for women who try to bring rape or battering cases who try to bring rape or battering cases through the Brazilian court system...

...After detectives investigate the nation...

...drew a largely favorable reaction...

...economic crisis continues...

...Economic crisis can aggravate the situation, but crisis can aggravate the situation, but violence against women in particular violence against women in particular is a constant...

...So far, policewomen are not pects...

...state of Sdo Paulo alone, there are 24...

...CarmenCarmen Souto de Oliveira, coordi Souto de Oliveira, coordinator of the special commission on nator of the special commission on violence of the National Women's violence of the National Women's RightsRights Council, concurs...

...inha [a good little girl...

...Although pressure on the governor by Sao pressure on the governor by So Paulo's feminists forced the creation Paulo's feminists forced the creation of the first Delegacia, its all woman of the first Delegacia, its all woman staff of officers, detectives and social staff of officers, detectives and social workers came from the police force workers came from the police force and not the women's movement...

...I wanted to solve this without problems, with to solve this without problems, without the police, withoutout the police, without anything," Eli anything," Eli ete explains...

...They point out that while the pressure They point out that while the pressure to staff new Delegacias da Muiher has to staff new Delegacias da Mulher has forced the doors of Brazilian police forced the doors of Brazilian police academies open to women, a severe academies open to women, a severe shortage of female officers has meant shortage of female officers has meant that a number of Women's Police Sta that a number of Women's Police Stations are actually headed by men...

...Only rarely are suspects imprisoned during the investigation...

...The idea of creating all female The idea of creating all female spaces to attend the special needs of spaces to attend the special needs of battered and raped women is not new, battered and raped women is not new, nor is it unique to Brazil...

...In be nobodies here," says Broxado...

...battle with the police is not yet won...

...She claims that nomic dependence...

...in the rest written them into state law...

...Many observ ersers wonder if the skyrocketing statis wonder if the skyrocketing statistics reflect a real increase in violence tics reflect a real increase in violence or merely a new willingness on the or merely a new willingness on the part of women to report crimes against part of women to report crimes against them.them...

...Yet social workerworker Suely Broxado, who has spent Suely Broxado, who has spent eighteight years working with battered years working with battered womenwomen in Rio de Janeiro, disagrees...

...bring small children in tow...

...Discriminatory legislation also en Discriminatory legislation also encourages sexism and impunity...

...InIn the early 1980s, when the gen the early 1980s, when the generaleral clamor for democracy and direct clamor for democracy and direct electionselections forced the military govern forced the military governmentment to enact reforms, the Brazilian to enact reforms, the Brazilian women'swomen's movement added its voice...

...AA woman named Eliete has come woman named Eliete has come toto press charges against her son, who press charges against her son, who went after her with a fish knife when went after her with a fish knife when sheshe asked him to move out of a house asked him to move out of a house they share in a Rio suburb...