Government of Rio launches 2nd edition of the campaign against harassment at Carnival

The Rio de Janeiro government launched this Tuesday (6) the second edition of the campaign against harassment during carnival “Did you hear NO? Respect the decision.” The action of the State Secretariat for Women (SEM) is aimed at men regarding crimes such as harassment and harassment and warns of violent attitudes against women in blocks, parades and other events. The pieces inform women about help channels, such as the Military Police's 190 center, and the free Rede Mulher mobile app, with the aim of guaranteeing a safe carnival for girls and women.

“We are making it very clear that we will not tolerate disrespect or violence against women. This is a party for fun, always with respect and responsibility”, highlighted governor Cláudio Castro. The Secretary of State for Women, Heloisa Aguiar, said that the message is very clear. “Strike up a chat, you can. What you can't do is pull the girls' arms, hair or costumes. And always remember: after “no”, it’s harassment. Respect for a woman’s body, her decision and her right to dress however she wants is imperative for us all to have a great carnival.”

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Throughout the carnival period, they will be publicized on social media, radio, billboards and bus stops, among other places phrases such as “It's to be part of the festivities and not the concept and At Carnival, you can be whatever you want. It just can’t be offensive, because revelry doesn’t go with harassment.” The campaign also features a samba and a video in which the reveler harasses a woman on the block and “wins” a rubbish emoji costume (boy-trash), emoji X (cancelled) and even emoji dislike (ball out). Teams will also take the campaign to large street blocks, Terreirão do Samba, Marquês de Sapucaí and Intendente Magalhães. In total, there will be 27 activations on Carnival days.

Protocol

O slogan of the campaign Did you hear a NO? Respect the decision gives its name to the protocol created by the Women's Secretariat in 2023, with the aim of ensuring greater safety for women at major events, shows, nightclubs, bars and restaurants. The document contains a series of recommendations, such as the installation of adequate lighting in parking lots and bathrooms, dissemination of help channels for women in emergencies and guidance on how security guards should approach and act in cases of aggression and harassment. The protocol also indicates presenting the victim with the Rede Mulher application. Downloaded for free on your cell phone, the tool has an emergency button that electronically activates the Military Police's 190 number, among other features.

Secretary Heloisa Aguiar informed that, this year, the campaign will also be in the interior of the state through partnerships with city halls. A total of 24 municipalities in Rio de Janeiro joined the campaign and the action protocol with guidelines that seek to ensure greater safety for women who are going to have fun during the festivities. In addition, teams from the 14 Specialized Women's Assistance Police Stations (DEAMs) were trained to provide more humanized service, added the secretary.