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. At first only a handful of business. At first only a handful of women trickle in to file complaints women trickle in to file complaints againstagainst husbands or boyfriends. Some husbands or boyfriends. Some of themof them bring small children in tow. bring small children in tow.
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. Her of their six year old boy. 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. “He’ll be furious,” reaction. “He’ll be furious,” sheshe says. says.
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. “I wanted they share in a Rio suburb. “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. “But this time, he went ete explains. “But this time, he went too far.” too far.” 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. Through in domestic violence. 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. By noon, the expect Monday crowds. By noon, the benches that line the Rio station’s dim benches that line the Rio station’s dim waiting room will be full. waiting room will be full.
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. “The Delegacias come exception. “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. congresswoman.
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. What does nor is it unique to Brazil. 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. cently emerged from military rule.
Elizabeth Station is a journalist and Elizabeth Station is a journalist and translator based in Rio de Janeiro. translator based in Rio de Janeiro.
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. movement added its voice. “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. Muiher, a in 1980 co founded S.O.S. Mulher, a
Rio de Janeiro center for female vic Rio de Janeiro center for female victimstims of violence. All over Brazil, femi of violence. All over Brazil, feminists founded S.O.S. groups in re nists founded S.O.S. 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. light prison sentences.
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. “Crimes against property are ously. “Crimes against property are punished more than crimes against punished more than crimes against people in this country,” says Arruda. people in this country,” says Arruda. “Here”Here in Brazil, no one respected a in Brazil, no one respected a woman’s word.” woman’s word.”
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. Setting up special police sta women. Setting up special police stations for women seemed a logical way tions for women seemed a logical way to confront the problem. The first to confront the problem. 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. Although tering, rape and other crimes. 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. The and not the women’s movement. 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. licewomen who ran the station.
The Sao Paulo station’s early work The Sdo Paulo station’s early work drew a largely favorable reaction. drew a largely favorable reaction.
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. need to give women special treatment. 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. had come to the station for help.
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. towns and cities all over Brazil.
Women’s Police Stations now exist in Women’s Police Stations now exist in every Brazilian state but one. In the every Brazilian state but one. In the state of Sao Paulo alone, there are 24. state of Sdo Paulo alone, there are 24.
The number of women seeking The number of women seeking services has also increased. The down services has also increased. 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. In 1988, as one of da Mulher in Brazil. 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. ceived nearly 7,000 women.
“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. at the very bottom of society.
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. “If they hadn’t worked, Council. “If they hadn’t worked, women wouldn’t be asking for them.” women wouldn’t be asking for them.”
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. 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. rape, intimidation and abandonment.
Half of the women who come in Half of the women who come in actually press charges against offend actually press charges against offenders; those who do not are referred to an ers; those who do not are referred to an in housein house social worker. Raped or in social worker. 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. After detectives investigate the nation. 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. case to court.
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. Ac only follows conviction. 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. Only rarely are suspects im Brazil. Only rarely are suspects imprisoned during the investigation. “If prisoned during the investigation. “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. year veteran of the Rio police force.
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. In the inland city of warrant. 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. So far, policewomen are not pects. 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. work.
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? 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. The Delegacias’ effec prisonment. 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. “Cases would be and repeat offenders. “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. She claims that now the man station. She claims that now the man who batterswho batters “is afraid. He thinks twice “is afraid. He thinks twice before beatingbefore beating a woman…” a woman…” 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. Serious treatment from de tionship. Serious treatment from detectivestectives and social workers can also and social workers can also help restore a victim’s self esteem. “I help restore a victim’s self esteem. “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. “This place has her neighborhood. “This place has moremore humanity.” humanity.”
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. Major much media attention. 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. 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. highest calling.
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. Many observ to understand its causes. 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. 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. their complaints.
Traditional misconceptions and Traditional misconceptions and prejudicesprejudices still characterize the discus still characterize the discussion of domestic violence in Brazil. sion of domestic violence in Brazil. 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. Yet social Police Stations are poor. 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. in Rio de Janeiro, disagrees. “We’We can’t associate violence against can’t associate violence against women with poverty or ignorance,” women with poverty or ignorance,” arguesargues Broxado. “Mostly poor people Broxado. “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.” Broxado also discards the theory zil.” 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. She claims that nomic dependence. 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. Escaping an abu their own incomes. 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. economic, pressures.
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. “Economic Council, concurs. “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.” is a constant.”
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. Most feminists special police stations. 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. “Women are raised to “Women are raised to be nobodies here,” says Broxado. “In be nobodies here,” says Broxado. “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].” inha [a good little girl].”
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. In through the Brazilian court system. 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. In a number of their fate. 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. murder or beating.
Discriminatory legislation also en Discriminatory legislation also encourages sexism and impunity. The courages sexism and impunity. 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. As a result, the defense lawyer ual. 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. get a rapist off the hook.
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. nisms to discourage domestic violence. ManyMany activists believe that even the activists believe that even the battle with the police is not yet won. battle with the police is not yet won. 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. tions are actually headed by men.
Moreover, the future of the Delega Moreover, the future of the Delega cias is by no means secure. So far Rio cias is by no means secure. So far Rio de Janeiro is the only state to have de Janeiro is the only state to have written them into state law; in the rest written them into state law; 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. Although political pres were set up. 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. and more conservative Northeast.
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. economic crisis continues.
DespiteDespite all these difficulties, the all these difficulties, the Women’sWomen’s Police Stations have proven Police Stations have proven their worth. The model has caught on their worth. The model has caught on inin Spain, Peru, Argentina and Uru Spain, Peru, Argentina and Uru guay. Congresswoman Arruda main guay. 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. The first time in the country’s history. 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. Their work has forced the dis process. 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. “invisible” issue.
