These powerful images show how Brazil is fighting violence against women
As part of a nationwide protest against violence against women, Brazilians covered Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro with hundreds of pairs of red and white (with red stains) underwear.
Flocking the sands of the famous beach, the underwear surrounded giant photos of women with blood-red hand prints over their mouths.
Recently in Rio, a 16-year-old girl was violently gang raped, and the images of her assault were then spread on Twitter. This horrible series of events set into motion a broader discussion of violence against women (both physical and psychological), and also rape culture in Brazil.
Since then, many Brazilians have spoken out against this horror and others like it. Rio de Paz, an NGO (non-governmental organization) who spearheaded the underwear display on Copacabana beach, told the Huffington Post, “We can’t tolerate abuse against women.”
The photos of models with the red hand prints were actually part of an art project by photographer Marcio Freitas, entitled “I will Never Be Silent.”
The combination of Fretias’ photos and Rio de Paz’s underwear display are incredibly striking. Hopefully, there will be more movements like this in the future and that Brazil, and the world at large, can win the fight against gender-based violence.
