After accusations against minister, Lula says women are a reference

The president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) said this Friday (September 6, 2024) that women are a reference for dignity in Brazil. The statement comes as the PT member decides whether or not to fire the Minister of Human Rights, Silvio Almeida, accused of sexual harassment.

“Women are a reference for dignity in this country. That’s why I’m against violence against women, that’s why I’m fighting against feminicide, because a man who raises his hand to slap a woman is not a man, he’s a sack of potatoes, because women were not made to be hit.”he declared at an event in Goiânia.

Earlier, Lula said he believes it is not possible for Almeida to continue in office given the accusations against him. In an interview, the president stated that those who engage in harassment cannot remain in government, but that he will still talk to those involved to decide by the end of the day.

However, the PT member stated that he wants to give the accused the right to a full defense.

“We will have to investigate properly, but I think it is not possible for the government to continue because the government will not live up to its speech in defense of women, including human rights, with someone who is being accused of harassment.”he said.

The accusations against the Minister of Human Rights were reported in a generic manner in a note from Me Too Brazil. He is accused of having committed sexual harassment against several people, including his colleague from Esplanada, the head of Racial Equality, Anielle Franco.

Almeida has repudiated the allegations of sexual harassment against him. In noticestated that there is a group that wants to “delete and diminish” its existence and requested an investigation into the case by the Ministry of Justice, the PGR (Attorney General’s Office) and the CGU (Comptroller General of the Union).

According to Lula, the matter should be resolved this Friday (September 6) after talks in Brasília with the AGU (Attorney General’s Office), CGU and the Minister of Justice, Ricardo Lewandowski. In addition, he will speak with Silvio Almeida and Anielle Franco.

Lula is in Goiânia and returns to the federal capital in the early afternoon.

UNDERSTAND

According to Me Too Brazilthe demand was sent by journalist Guilherme Amado’s column, from Metrópoles, to confirm the accusations, and the disclosure of the case took place with the consent of the victims, since they work with confidentiality of information.

In a note sent to Poder360 (read below)the entity stated that the women were assisted through the organization’s service channels and received psychological and legal support.

The report published by Metropolises states that the matter is known to several ministers, government advisors and friends of Anielle Franco.

According to this digital newspaper, the heads of some ministries expressed surprise at the allegations, but that, if proven, it is unsustainable for Silvio Almeida to remain in Lula’s Esplanade.

THE Poder360 contacted the Minister of Racial Equality and the Minister of Human Rights by phone, WhatsApp messages and email to ask if they would like to comment on the accusations. There was no response by the time this report was published. The text will be updated if a statement is sent to this digital newspaper.

Read the full note from Silvio Almeida:

“I absolutely vehemently repudiate the lies that are being thrown at me. I repudiate such accusations with the strength of the love and respect that I have for my wife and my beloved 1-year-old daughter, in the midst of the fight that I wage, daily, in favor of human rights and citizenship in this country.

“Any and all complaints must be substantiated. However, what I see are absurd inferences with the sole intention of harming me, erasing our struggles and stories, and blocking our future.

“I confess that it is very sad to experience all this, it hurts my soul. Once again, there is a group wanting to erase and diminish our existence, attributing to me the behaviors that they practice. With this, Brazil loses, the human rights agenda loses, racial equality loses and the Brazilian people lose.

“Each and every complaint must be investigated to the fullest extent of the law, but for this to happen, the facts must be exposed so that they can be investigated and processed. And not just based on lies, without evidence. I will forward official letters to the Office of the Comptroller General of the Union, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security and the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic so that they can conduct a careful investigation of the case.

“False accusations, as defined in article 339 of the Penal Code, constitute “slanderous denunciation”. Such defamation will not be matched by reality. According to recent movements, it is clear that there is a campaign to affect my image as a black man in a prominent position in Public Power, but these will not be successful. This proves the low and vile character of social sectors committed to backwardness, lies and the attempt to silence the voice of the Brazilian people, regardless of partisan views.

“Any distortions of reality will be uncovered and held accountable. I will always fight for the true emancipation of women, and I will continue to fight for their future. False defenders of the people want to take away the one who represents them. They are trying to erase my history with my sacrifice.”

Read the full statement from Me Too Brazil:

“The organization defending women victims of sexual violence, Me Too Brasil, confirms, with the consent of the victims, that it received complaints of sexual harassment against Minister Silvio Almeida, of Human Rights. They were assisted through the organization’s service channels and received psychological and legal support.

“As is often the case in cases of sexual violence involving perpetrators in positions of power, these victims faced difficulties in obtaining institutional support to validate their complaints. In view of this, they authorized confirmation of the case to the press.

“Victims of sexual violence, especially when the perpetrators are powerful or influential figures, often face obstacles in getting support and having their voices heard. Because of this, Me Too Brazil plays a crucial role in offering unconditional support to victims, even if this involves facing great forces and influences associated with the power of the accused.

“Reporting is the first step towards holding an aggressor legally accountable, demonstrating that no one is above the law, regardless of their social, economic or political position. Reporting an aggressor in a position of power helps break the cycle of impunity that often protects them. Public reporting exposes abusive behavior that is sometimes covered up by institutions or networks of influence.

“Furthermore, exposing a powerful alleged abuser can “embolden other victims to break their silence. In many cases, abuse does not occur in isolation, and reporting it can pave the way for others to seek justice as well.”

“For Me Too Brazil, all victims are treated with the same respect, neutrality and impartiality, with an approach based on the victims’ traumas. In the same way, we treat aggressors, regardless of their position, whether a worker or a minister.”

Read more about the case: