Over 1,100 Women Victims of Sexual Harassment in Rio de Janeiro in 2019

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The ‘Dossiê Mulher’ (Women’s Dossier), released in late August this year by the Public Safety Institute (ISP), provides the first statistical data on the profile of sexual harassment victims, which in September 2018 ceased to be a misdemeanor and became a serious criminal offense under the Criminal Code.

The survey showed that last year, 1,154 women were victims of harassment, 55.4 percent did not know the perpetrator and 73.5 percent were single. In total, 49.2 percent were white, 33.8 percent mixed-race and 13.8 percent black, in addition, 42.7 percent were between the ages of 18 and 29.

The majority of these crimes occurred between Monday and Friday in locations outside the victim’s residence. Both the times and the days when harassment was most recorded pointed out that women were victimized on public transports to and from work. The ‘Dossiê Mulher’ 15th edition showed that 45.8 percent of cases occurred in the capital, 32.9 percent in the afternoon, and 31.6 percent in the morning.

The crime of sexual harassment refers to the practice of a libidinous act (of sexual nature), in the presence of someone, without their authorization and with the purpose of indulging their own or someone else’s lewdness (sexual pleasure).

The perpetrator may face a prison sentence of between one and five years. This same law also applies to the disclosure of a rape scene or rape of the vulnerable. For the ISP’s director-president, Marcela Ortiz, it is important to make women aware of the ability to punish those who practice the crime of sexual harassment.

“It is very important for women to be aware that this is a crime and that they can denounce it. This can help break this violence cycle. A man who commits the crime of harassment, if not punished, may escalate to violence and, who knows, commit rape or even femicide,” she said.

Rape

According to the ‘Dossiê Mulher’, 351 women were victims of rape and rape scene disclosure in 2019. The virtual dissemination of the criminal act occurs in 30.2 percent of all cases.

Victims’ profile:

• 48.1 percent were aged between 18 and 29 (adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age represent 14.2 percent of the total number of victims)
• 62.7 percent were single
• 18.8 percent were married or lived together
• 8 percent were separated
• 0.9 percent were widows
• 38.7 percent were victimized by their partner or ex-partner (revenge pornography)
• 30.8 percent were victimized by an unknown individual