Government plans efforts to protect women during Carnival

The Ministries of Tourism and Women are planning a series of measures to ensure greater safety for women during Carnival, especially against harassment and sexual harassment. The measures are part of the Brasil sem Misoginia (Brazil without Misogyny) campaign for Carnival.

Among the main measures is the implementation of the No Means No protocol (Não é Não in the original Portuguese), sanctioned in December by President Lula.

The initiative will include the collaboration of tourism establishments, from lodging (hotels, inns) to food (bars, restaurants), as well as transportation and nightclubs.

The protocol

The No Means No protocol was created to prevent embarrassment and violence against women in environments wherever alcoholic beverages are sold, like nightclubs and indoor music venues or concerts.

The law establishing the protocol details some of the rights of women in these environments and the duties of the establishments. Among them is the right for women to be immediately taken away from aggressors and be protected by people of their choice while in the establishment or as they wait for transportation if they want to leave. It also stipulates it is up to the woman to define whether she has suffered embarrassment or violence.

Support

In a statement, the Ministry of Women said the issue has been the subject of meetings between Minister Cida Gonçalves and Tourism Minister Celso Sabino.

“It is at Carnival that many women are victims of abuse and other forms of violence. With this campaign, we want to make Carnival and other national festivals safer for women and girls,” explained Minister Cida Gonçalves, noting that 45 percent of women in Brazil have had their bodies touched without consent in a public place.

“Brazil is known as a highly hospitable nation, but we cannot allow this trait to be confused with our women being indiscriminately permissive or available—a misconception that many tourists still believe to be true,” the tourism minister added.