Brazil fails to protect women from violence-Amnesty
RIO DE JANEIRO, April 17 (Reuters) - Women in Brazil's slums are increasingly caught in the middle of violence between drug gangs and police, with many being lured into the narcotics trade, Amnesty International said on Thursday.
New laws protecting women's rights in Latin America's largest country have been undermined by a lack of resources, brutal police tactics and discrimination within the judiciary and prison systems, the human rights group said.
"What we're hearing time and time again from the state and federal government is that part of problem in Brazil is the breakdown of the family, but their policies are undermining the ability of women to sustain the family," said Tim Cahill, the report's author.
Slum areas, or favelas, around Brazil's major cities have become virtual no-go areas for the state apart from violent police raids targeting drug traffickers that often result in civilian deaths.
The report, based on a series of interviews in six states over the past two years, said women tended to be seen as disposable by criminals and corrupt police officers alike, and were often used as "mules" or as decoys by drug gangs.
"Women often turn to the drug trade as way of supplementing their meager income and end up in the criminal justice system," Cahill said.
Amnesty said some women told of having their heads shaven for infidelity, and being forced to provide sexual favors for the payment of debts. Growing numbers are ending up in Brazil's overcrowded prison system, where they are vulnerable to physical and psychological abuse and rape, the report said.
The Justice Ministry said 25,909 women were in Brazil's prisons in 2007, or 6.2 percent of the inmate population.
Brazil last year expanded the legal rights of women victims of domestic violence, promoting the use of specialized courts, women's police stations, shelters and medical clinics.
Amnesty said the law was a major step forward but better enforcement and access to services was needed.
(Reporting by Stuart Grudgings; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
New laws protecting women's rights in Latin America's largest country have been undermined by a lack of resources, brutal police tactics and discrimination within the judiciary and prison systems, the human rights group said.
"What we're hearing time and time again from the state and federal government is that part of problem in Brazil is the breakdown of the family, but their policies are undermining the ability of women to sustain the family," said Tim Cahill, the report's author.
Slum areas, or favelas, around Brazil's major cities have become virtual no-go areas for the state apart from violent police raids targeting drug traffickers that often result in civilian deaths.
The report, based on a series of interviews in six states over the past two years, said women tended to be seen as disposable by criminals and corrupt police officers alike, and were often used as "mules" or as decoys by drug gangs.
"Women often turn to the drug trade as way of supplementing their meager income and end up in the criminal justice system," Cahill said.
Amnesty said some women told of having their heads shaven for infidelity, and being forced to provide sexual favors for the payment of debts. Growing numbers are ending up in Brazil's overcrowded prison system, where they are vulnerable to physical and psychological abuse and rape, the report said.
The Justice Ministry said 25,909 women were in Brazil's prisons in 2007, or 6.2 percent of the inmate population.
Brazil last year expanded the legal rights of women victims of domestic violence, promoting the use of specialized courts, women's police stations, shelters and medical clinics.
Amnesty said the law was a major step forward but better enforcement and access to services was needed.
(Reporting by Stuart Grudgings; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
© Thomson Reuters 2008 All rights reserved
Sphere
Piracy fight
Obama visits Jewish shrine
