Image: Soroptimists raise awareness of domestic abuse at Curitiba airport

With the eyes of
footballing nations on Brazil, currently hosting the World Cup, this week’s
SoroptiVoice blog looks at some of the work that the 31 Brazilian Soroptimist
clubs are doing to tackle violence against women. As in many countries,
violence against women and girls is a major problem in Brazil and tackling it
is a significant priority for Soroptimists; Belkis Rajabally of SI Santos in Brazil writes
about the domestic violence law introduced in 2006 and introduces some Soroptimist
projects around the country.

Brazil has a law called
Maria da Penha. It is a federal law, of August 7, 2006, that deals with
domestic and family violence against women. It is based on the Brazilian
Federal Constitution, the Convention to Eliminate all Forms of Discrimination
against Women, and the Inter-American Convention to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate
violence against women. It is called after Maria da Penha, who was a victim of
domestic violence for 23 years. Her husband beat her, and tried to murder her
twice. First he used a gun, leaving her paraplegic He then tried again to kill
her. She denounced him to the proper authorities; he was arrested and faced a
trial  which lasted 19 years. He remained
in prison for 2 years only. After that Maria da Penha struggled to have her
rights recognized, and as a consequence this law was enacted.

One of the most important Soroptimist
actions to eradicate violence against women is performed at schools, community
centers, churches, companies. Psychologists who are members of Brazilian
Soroptimist clubs go into these places to work with girls, teenagers and women
and increase their self-esteem, leaving them less at risk of violence.

 

Image: SI Cubatão members raising awareness of domestic abuse with employees arriving at Petrobras refinery, where they hand out leaflets and speak to staff.

Soroptimist clubs in Brazil also embrace the UN awareness
campaign “Say NO – UniTE to End Violence Against Women”, and take part in the
16 days of activism against gender-violence, from 25 November, the
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December
2013, Human Rights Day. During those days we “Orange our World”.  We continue the campaign throughout the year
as every 25^th of each month we wear something orange. Some clubs
make orange lace ribbons to be put on the lapel.  They are given to passers-by in many areas of
the city.

One of the subjects that Soroptimist International of
the Americas (SIA) clubs pay particular attention to is teenager violence. In
Brazil, the University of Sao Paulo – USP published data regarding violence in
teenagers dating, as teenagers are unsure about their relationships, and don’t
quite know how to behave. So Brazil Region launched a national campaign to
fight that kind of violence. Using chats and lectures to youngsters, giving
them written material and bookmarks with phrases to prevent that violence the
clubs participated in this campaign that takes place in schools, and other
places of teenagers gathering.

Image: never missing an opportunity to raise awareness about domestic violence, while one SI Cubatão member is hospitalized, Soroptimists visiting her bring "Orange Day" with them, distributing leaflets and ribbons and speaking to medical staff.

Another SIA programme that
Brazil Region clubs participate in, is the Soroptimist Workplace Campaign to
End Domestic Violence, to keep women safe at work. Soroptimist members talk to
women to make their rights known, give them cards with information on the
subject, and telephone numbers and addresses of the major official organisations
that can help .  The campaign is carried
out at supermarkets, shopping malls, and other places where women gather. There
are shelters, some of them a result of Soroptimist members’ work, where
victimized women can go to.

Many Brazilian cities have
a Council for the Defense of Women’s rights, an organ mixed formed equally by
citizens and public servants who fight to eradicate violence. In most cities a
Soroptimist member takes part in the council.

On Brazil Region Board of
Directors advice, the clubs encourage governmental organs to create Police Stations
for women, a particularly specialized precinct. Now we are working to have a
court specialized in women’s rights.

 

Image: travellers reading leaflets about child sexual exploitation distributed by SI Curitiba at the airport

Violence against women happens also through the
trafficking of  human beings. Almost 80% of people trafficked through the borders
are women and girls. Brazilian clubs act to make girls and young women
aware of the dangers of the many forms or recruiting them, with promises that
result in slavery and prostitution.  To
accomplish that, we visit schools, and other premises, in poorer neighborhoods
to create awareness about traffic, giving the women and girls written material,
folders and stickers.

These are just some of the actions to fight violence
against women that Soroptimists carry out in the Brazil Region.

More Soroptimist projects from Brazil

Glacytramujuas Cooking School – vocational training  for women and girls at risk of prostitution, drug use and trafficking (Project of Excellence, Global Impact Report 2012-13)

Revive Social Net– job skills and training for at-risk young women (Project of Excellence, Global Impact Report 2012-13)

New Times – vocational training for domestic violence survivors (Case study, Global Impact Report 2012-13)

Read more about Soroptimist International of the Americas federation-wide programmes.