Cristina Índio do Brasil
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Rio - A study entitled "The Brazilian Women in the Public and Private Spheres" ("A Mulher Brasileira nos Espaços Público e Privado"), drawn up by the Fundação Perseu Abramo in 2001 found that women are the victims of violence no matter what their social status or age. The study also pointed out that one of the main problems in dealing with violence against women is that women are reluctant to denounce their aggressors.

"Before the Perseu Abramo study it was believed that most violence against women involved people with little education and low incomes," explains Cecilia Soares of the Rio de Janeiro Center for Integrated Assistance for Women. "There was also the problem of characterizing violence. Psychological violence was not understood, with most people believing that a women had to be beaten up, stabbed or shot to be a real victim of violence."

"Another problem is rape. Brazilian culture does not accept the possibility of a woman being raped by her husband, so if a woman resists many people think she is wrong. Rape is a crime that can occur in or out of a marriage and women have a right to defend themselves. The police have to remember this and women must be aware of this fact as well," says Soares.

Translation: Allen Bennett