Brazil: Thousands of women march against sexual violence

After a 30-0 countdown, about 3,000 people, mostly women carrying flowers, marched on the Ministries Esplanade in central Brasília on Sunday (May 29) to protest sexual violence against women and demand public policies to ensure gender education in Brazilian schools.

The protest, which was called “March of Flowers – 30 Vs. All,” was called by 16 organizations relating to women's and children's rights, in a response to the recent rape of a 16-year-old girl by more than 30 men in Rio de Janeiro. The gang rape was recorded on video and posted online, sparking outrage on social media.

Shouting slogans including “Mess with one, mess with all,” and “A woman's place is wherever she wants to be,” the protesters marched to the front of the Supreme Court, where they took down the fence surrounding the building and hung panties dyed red to symbolize sexual violence against women.

“Streets are like a battlefield for us [women]. Men have no idea of the fear we experience every day. Everyone could turn into an abuser, because oppressing women is in our culture. This is something very difficult to eradicate, but we are standing up against it,” said Daniela Gontijo, a 29-year-old teacher at the protest.

The Justice statue in front of the Supreme Court building had its lap covered with flowers and posters. Women also shouted slogans against interim President Michel Temer and Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes.

“Only through education and public policy can we confront this violence, especially violence against women,” said Ana Beatriz Goldstein, a civil servant who was among the protest organizers. According to her, dozens of public school headteachers were at the demonstration.

Translated by Mayra Borges