Gang rape of teenage girl in Brazil by more than 30 men sparks online outrage

In this article:

Brazil

MACHO CULTURE

rape

TEENAGE GIRL

World

Gang rape of teenage girl in Brazil by more than 30 men sparks online outrage

Fecha de publicación:

27 May 2016

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The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly visited her boyfriend’s house in Rio De Janeiro and was drugged before waking up in a different house, surrounded by dozens of men, according to the BBC.

@bruzanin This happened in my country, and it is NOT ok. Help us #SayNoToRape #EstuproNuncaMais

It was only when she reportedly returned home later that day, she discovered her attackers had filmed the incident and posted images on social media.

The 40-second video clip was also shared on Twitter, attracting a series of misogynistic comments before being removed from the site.

The girl’s grandmother told local newspaper Folha de São Paulo the family was emotional after watching the video.

“I regretted watching it,” she said. “When we heard the story, we didn’t believe what was happening. It’s a great affliction. It’s a depressing situation.”

Though police have issued arrest warrants for the culprits, including the boyfriend, angry campaigners took to Twitter to voice outrage at the country’s “culture of rape.”

Using the hashtag 'EstuproNuncaMais' (rape never again), Twitter users said women should never have to endure such an experience.

‎@witchcraftev It's our job to make this 16 year old girl feel safe again. I'm so sorry and sad #EstuproNuncaMais

@AdriVasconcelos #EstuproNuncaMais Violência contra Mulher também é problema seu. Ligue 180

One woman said she rejected “macho culture” and “turning a women into a sexual object.”Others called not only for the attackers to be punished, but also those who viewed the video as it “encourages the crazies.”

@wordlay Repudiamos também essa cultura machista, que nos estupra moralmente todos os dias tranformando a mulher em objeto sexual #EstuproNuncaMais

8:19 PM - 26 May 2016

Rights groups have previously criticized Brazil for its “macho” views on women.

A joint study by the UN and Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA )in 2014 found that a shocking 58.5 percent of Brazilians believed if women “behaved properly,” there would be fewer cases of rape, highlighting the sexism in the country’s society.

Prior to 2009, rape was defined in law as a “crime against social dignity,” which focused more on the reputation of a family, rather than the injustice suffered by the individual of the actual crime.

According to the same IPEA study, there are more than 500,000 rape incidents in Brazil every year, with only 10 percent being reported to authorities.

The penal code was changed that same year and recategorized as a “crime against dignity and sexual freedom,” which encouraged more people to come forward and report rape.