Case of rape In Brazil reverberates in Australia

Sunday, 29 of May 2016
By Bruna Corralo 

A sad case that happened in Brazil is causing an international commotion. A girl of 16 years was raped by 33 men in Rio de Janeiro. The crime happened in the early hours of Saturday, 22/05, in a community in west of the city. The case was the main topic in social media in the last days, reverberating here in Australia.

According the last information and her testimony, the girl was in a party on Saturday and went to her ex-boyfriend’s house, where she fell asleep. On Sunday, when she woke up, she was in another place, without her clothes, hurt and there were many men around her. She was saved by a community worker, who took her home.

The criminals recorded, photographed and published on social networks scenes of the crime, which caused a great revolt, taking the case to the police and a national discussion. Four of the 33 men were identified, and the police investigation continues.

The case has reverberated around the world as barbaric. The United Nations (UN) asked for clarification and punishment of this and another gang rape occurred in Piaui, a state in the North of Brazil.

Cases like this usually happen in Brazilian communities, where education, health and security are precarious. However, this crime has generated a true national commotion, creating a movement against rape culture.

Different from here, where we can go out on street with any clothes that we want without be bullied, in Brazil, a country with a strong chauvinist culture, we suffer little abuses every day.

The way we wear, talk, people that we relate, where we go, how we dance, everything becomes a "reason" to be susceptible to a crime like this. However, the truth is that in no crime victim can be seen as guilty. Women must be respected, no matter what age, religion, behaviour or clothes they wear, nothing is reason for a brutal crime like this.

The discussion reached the Australian community in Brisbane. One of the people that published about he case was Debora Fiorini, a Brazilian Student:

“I was shocked, not like the other rapes, because cases unfortunately is not new, but more because it was made for 33 men, who recorded and released the video.

The cruelty was huge and it shocked me. Just as the sexist comments, which we can see in the publications, each nonsense, that we see how society is lagging behind the human and especially women's rights. Society needs to understand that rape is not the woman's fault and that it can happen even at home.

Here in Australia I talked to some people and everyone is horrified too. The positive side of this case is to see particularly in the social networks women putting themselves against rape culture. I realize that more and more, at least around me, the people are speaking out against such cases”

Nota:

Rape culture is the name used to explain the behavior patterns in which sexual violence is considered normal - that is, where people are not taught not rape, but taught to not be raped. The term was first used by feminists in the 70s, but has become more popular in recent years, with more survivors sharing their stories.

It is a strong term and repugnant behaviour. The Gringo is against this type of behaviour and believes that the most appropriate term would be ignorance of rape.

And you what you think of the matter? Leave your opinion in the comments.