Latest news with #Brasília
Associated Press
8 hours ago
- Health
- Associated Press
'I was terrified I was going to die.' Rape victims in Brazil struggle to access legal abortions
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A 27-year-old Brazilian woman, who said she became pregnant after being raped in March during Carnival in Brasilia, should have been granted access to a legal abortion. But when she sought to terminate the pregnancy at a hospital around a month later, she was told she needed a police report to access the service, despite it not being a legal requirement. She decided to abort at home with medication she bought on the black market, with only a few friends on site to help. 'I fainted several times because of the pain. I was terrified I was going to die,' she said. The Associated Press does not identify people without their permission if they say they have been sexually assaulted. In Brazil, abortion is legally restricted to cases of rape, life-threatening risks to the pregnant woman or if the fetus has no functioning brain. Theoretically, when a pregnancy results from sexual violence, the victim's word should suffice for access to the procedure. 'The law doesn't require judicial authorization or anything like that,' explained Ivanilda Figueiredo, a professor of law at the State University of Rio de Janeiro. 'A woman seeking an abortion recounts the situation to a multi-disciplinary team at the healthcare clinic and, in theory, that should be enough.' In practice, however, advocates, activists and health experts say women encounter significant barriers to ending a pregnancy even under the limited conditions provided for by the law. This is due to factors including lack of facilities, disparities between clinic protocols and even resistance from medical personnel. 'Healthcare professionals, citing religious or moral convictions, often refuse to provide legal abortions, even when working in clinics authorized to perform them,' said Carla de Castro Gomes, a sociologist who studies abortion and associate researcher at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Women in Brazil also face geographical barriers to legal abortions. Only 290 facilities in a mere 3.6% of municipalities around the country of approximately 213 million people provide the service, according to a 2021 study from scientific journal Reports in Public Health. In June 2022, four nonprofits filed a legal challenge with the Supreme Court, arguing that restrictions on abortion access violate women's constitutional rights. The case is currently under review. 'Still a taboo' A 35-year-old cashier from a small city in the interior of Rio de Janeiro state also said she became pregnant as a result of a rape. But, unlike the woman in Brasilia, she chose to pursue an abortion through legal means, fearing the risks that come with a clandestine procedure. Although Brazil's Health Ministry mandates that, in the case of a pregnancy resulting from rape, healthcare professionals must present women with their rights and support them in their decision, the woman said a hospital committee refused to terminate the pregnancy. They claimed she was too far along, despite Brazilian law not stipulating a time limit for such procedures. She eventually found help through the Sao Paulo-based Women Alive Project, a nonprofit specializing in helping victims of sexual violence access legal abortions. The organization helped her locate a hospital in another state, an 18-hour drive, willing to carry out the procedure. Thanks to a fundraising campaign, the woman was able to travel and undergo the operation at 30 weeks of pregnancy in late April. 'We are already victims of violence and are forced to suffer even more,' she said in a phone interview. 'It's a right guaranteed by law, but unfortunately still seen as taboo.' Legal uncertainty Brazil's abortion laws are among the most constrictive in Latin America, where several countries — including Mexico, Argentina and Colombia — have enacted sweeping reforms to legalize or broadly decriminalize abortion. This legislative environment is exacerbated by a political landscape in which far-right politicians, supported by Catholic and Evangelical voters who make up a majority in the country, regularly seek to further restrict the limited provisions within the country's penal code. In 2020, the government of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro issued an ordinance requiring doctors to report rape victims seeking abortions to the police. Current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva revoked the measure in his first month in office in 2023. But the measure left lasting effects. 'These changes end up generating a lot of legal uncertainty among health professionals, who fear prosecution for performing legal abortions,' Castro Gomes said. Last year, conservative lawmaker Sóstenes Cavalcante proposed a bill to equate the termination of a pregnancy after 22 weeks with homicide, sparking widespread protests by feminist groups across Brazil. The protests ultimately led to the proposal being shelved. But in November, a committee of the Chamber of Deputies approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would effectively outlaw all abortions by determining the 'inviolability of the right to life from conception.' The bill is currently on hold, awaiting the formation of a commission. Earlier this month, Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, a Lula ally, came under fire after sanctioning a bill mandating anti-abortion messages on posters in municipal hospitals and other health establishments. 'Doctors don't tell you' Advocates say access to abortion highlights significant disparities: women with financial means dodge legal restrictions by traveling abroad for the procedure, while children, poor women and Black women face greater obstacles. According to the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety, 61.6% of the 83,988 rape victims in 2023 were under the age of 14. A statistical analysis that year by investigative outlet The Intercept estimated less than 4% of girls aged 10 to 14 who became pregnant as a result of rape accessed a legal abortion between 2015 and 2020. In Rio de Janeiro's Mare favela, one of the city's largest low-income communities, the nonprofit Networks of Mare's House of Women provides women with information regarding their reproductive rights, including legal provisions for abortions. It was there, during a recent workshop, that Karina Braga de Souza, a 41-year-old mother of five, found out abortion is legal in certain cases in Brazil. 'We don't have access (to information). Doctors don't tell you,' she said. Cross-border connections Feminist groups in Brazil are campaigning at a federal level for enhanced access to legal abortion services. Last year, 'A Child Is Not a Mother,' a campaign by feminist groups, successfully advocated for the National Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents to adopt a resolution detailing how to handle cases of pregnant child rape victims. The body, jointly made up of government ministries and civil society organizations, approved the resolution by a slim majority in December. Brazilian activists also are seeking to improve access to abortion by forging links with organizations abroad. In May, members of feminist groups in Brazil including Neither in Prison, Nor Dead and Criola met with a delegation of mostly Black U.S. state legislators. The meeting, organized by the Washington, D.C.-based Women's Equality Center, aimed to foster collaboration on strategies to defend reproductive rights, especially in light of the U.S. Supreme Court 2022 decision to strip away the constitutional right to abortion. In the meantime, the consequences for women who struggle to access their rights run deep. The woman in Brasilia who underwent an abortion at home said she is coping thanks to therapy and the support of other women, but has been traumatized by recent events. By being denied access to a legal abortion, 'our bodies feel much more pain than they should,' she said. 'Whenever I remember, I feel very angry.' ___ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
PSG vs Botafogo: how to watch, match time, lineups for Club World Cup clash
PSG vs Botafogo live stream, time, and broadcast information Paris Saint-Germain will face Botafogo in the second round of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup group stage Thursday, June 19, at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles. The match begins at 10 p.m. (Brasília time) and will be broadcast live on TV Globo, Sportv, Globoplay, DAZN, and CazéTV, with real-time highlights available on ge. The tournament, hosted in the United States, features 32 clubs from five continents. Each team will play three group-stage matches, followed by a single-elimination knockout phase beginning in the round of 16. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More Undo Also read: PSG vs Botafogo: How to watch Club World Cup clash - Live stream, venue, and start time Botafogo enters the match after a 2-1 win over Seattle Sounders on Sunday, June 15. Defender Jair and forward Igor Jesus scored for the Brazilian club, which currently sits second in the group. Botafogo qualified for the tournament as the reigning Copa Libertadores champions. Live Events Paris Saint-Germain, fresh off a 5-0 UEFA Champions League final victory over Inter Milan, began the Club World Cup with a 4-0 win over Atlético de Madrid. Luis Enrique's team currently leads the group and is considered the favorite to advance. Confirmed lineups and injury reports for PSG and Botafogo Paris Saint-Germain will line up in a 4-3-3 formation under manager Luis Enrique. Gianluigi Donnarumma starts in goal, with a back four consisting of Achraf Hakimi, Lucas Beraldo, Willian Pacho, and Lucas Hernández. In midfield, the trio of Warren Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, and Senny Mayulu will look to control possession and link play with the front three. Leading the attack are Désiré Doué on the right, Gonçalo Ramos as the central striker, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the left wing. On the bench, Enrique has notable depth, including experienced defenders like Presnel Kimpembe and Marquinhos, along with creative midfielders such as Fabián Ruiz and Lee Kang-in. Ousmane Dembélé misses out due to a left thigh injury. Renato Paiva's Botafogo also lines up in a 4-3-3. John starts in goal behind a defense of Alex Telles, Alexander Barboza, Joaquim Cunha, and Vitinho. The midfield trio features Jefferson Savarino, Gregore, and Allan, while the attacking duties will be handled by Igor Jesus, Artur, and Matheus Freitas. Also read: PSG thrash Atletico Madrid 4-0 to launch Club World Cup bid in style The Brazilian side boasts a well-stocked bench with experienced players including Fernando Marçal, Danilo Barbosa, and Joaquín Correa. Matheus Martins is sidelined due to a left thigh injury. Match officials and VAR assignments for Club World Cup group stage match Referee Drew Fischer of Canada will officiate the match, joined by assistants Micheal Barwegen and Lyes Arfa. Gustavo Tejera (Uruguay) will serve as the fourth official. Shaun Evans (Australia) will handle VAR duties, with Guillermo Pacheco (Mexico) as assistant VAR. Paris Saint-Germain and Botafogo meet Thursday, June 19, in the 2025 Club World Cup group stage at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles. The match features Champions League and Libertadores title-holders, with kickoff set for 10 p.m. Brasília time. Broadcasts include TV Globo, Sportv, Globoplay, DAZN, and CazéTV PSG vs Botafogo: how to watch, match time, lineups for Club World Cup clash The winner of PSG vs Botafogo will take control of Group A heading into the final round of matches, which also includes Atlético de Madrid and Seattle Sounders.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Brazil central bank raises rates by 25 bps in seventh straight hike
BRASILIA, June 18 (Reuters) - Brazil's central bank raised interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday, delivering a seventh consecutive hike that defied bets it would hold rates steady, as unanchored inflation expectations and a resilient economy kept policymakers on alert. The bank's rate-setting committee, Copom, unanimously decided to lift the benchmark Selic rate to 15%, the highest since July 2006. A majority of 27 out of 39 economists polled by Reuters had expected the bank to hold rates steady at 14.75%.
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
In Brazil, a familiar question: Is the president too old to run again?
BRASÍLIA — President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is worried about his legs. The Brazilian leader has become 'obsessed' with strengthening his leg muscles, one longtime aide said, so his gait never betrays the truth: That on the cusp of turning 80, he is now an old man. During the 2022 campaign, he gritted his way through a painful hip condition, but waited to tell the public — and to undergo hip replacement surgery — until he was back in the presidential palace. Weeks later, he was showing off his leg workouts in a video posted on social media. After suffering a bad fall in the bathroom last year, he was soon back in his exercise gear, with a word about mobility. 'Do leg exercises,' Lula said. 'Do lots of leg exercises.' But such displays of vitality have failed to temper concerns about his age. Recent polls show two-thirds of voters are worried about Lula's health, and their concern is shared by a number of the president's political allies and advisers, seven of whom spoke to The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity to candidly describe their impressions. They say Lula is largely the same but is now slower to make decisions, far more irritable and is struggling to keep up with a changing Brazil. Despite the public and private consternation about his advancing age, the leftist is expected to soon launch his campaign for a record fourth presidential term, which, if successful, would keep him in office until he's 85 years old. His likely decision to renege on an earlier promise to step aside after his current term has drawn uncomfortable comparisons with former U.S. president Joe Biden, whose determination to run for reelection despite his visible enfeeblement remains a matter of intense scrutiny and recrimination inside the Democratic Party. Like Biden, the Brazilian leader has also failed to cultivate a clear political heir. 'This is Lula's own fault,' said a senior leader of the president's Workers Party. 'It's a messianic thing he has where he thinks no one else can get the job done like he can.' Lula's press office did not respond to a request for comment. In public, Lula still appears sharp and in command of the facts. The famously charismatic politician speaks forcefully and moves with the vigor of a much younger man. 'I have the energy of a 30-year-old,' he once quipped, 'and the lust of a 20-year-old.' In 2022, Lula, who had already served two terms as president and left office enormously popular, mounted his political comeback by styling himself as a senior statesman. He vowed to restore political stability to a country that had been devastated by the coronavirus and to defeat President Jair Bolsonaro, whom he called a unique threat to Brazilian democracy. Since that victory, however, he has failed to engender the same widespread adoration. His approval ratings, according to two major polls this month, have sunk to record lows. 'This is an antiquated government,' said Thomas Traumann, a political analyst. 'A good part of the population did not vote to bring back the Lula era. They did it just to get rid of Jair Bolsonaro.' Now, polls show, a plurality of Brazilians say governance was better under Bolsonaro. With less than 18 months until the next presidential election, progressives say the president has left them with few options. Allies and advisers readily concede that Lula is diminished. He speaks often about death and mortality. He has bouts of dizziness. But they're convinced the aging leftist still gives them the best shot in 2026, contending with an electorate that remains deeply conservative. 'It won't be easy to win with Lula,' said close ally Emidio de Souza. 'But it would be impossible to win without him.' Brazilian journalists have a name for this political quagmire: O efeito Biden, 'The Biden effect.' Lula's recent struggles represent new territory for a politician whose popular touch has rarely been in doubt. Born into poverty in Brazil's northeast, he rose from the factory floor to national prominence through eloquence and persistence. He ran for president and lost three times before finally winning in 2002, becoming Brazil's first working-class president. During two consecutive terms, the economy boomed and his approval rating eclipsed 80 percent. Barack Obama described Lula as 'the most popular politician on earth.' His love affair with the Brazilian people cooled once he was out of office. His chosen successor, Dilma Rousseff, was brought down by allegations of financial wrongdoing. Then an extensive corruption probe tarred his party and ultimately led to his own conviction and imprisonment. Lula, who denied the allegations against him, was released in 2019 and quickly renewed his bid for the presidency. But once he got there — barely defeating Bolsonaro — it became clear to his closest advisers that he had changed. And so had Brazil. His consensus-building style of governance no longer seemed suited for an increasingly polarized country where voters inhabited completely different media ecosystems. 'He understands polarization, but he doesn't know how to deal with it,' a prominent Workers Party leader said. Instead, he has seemed far more preoccupied with international relations, some aides said. Rarely does a month go by when he's not jetting around the world to meet with other global leaders. In two and a half years in office, according to a count by Poder 360, he has spent 114 days outside of Brazil. 'In the beginning of 2024, I told Lula, 'Why aren't you more popular?'' a congressional ally said. 'And he called me a pessimist. He didn't seem connected to the problems, but that's Lula in his third term: impatient, self-reliant and oblivious.' Lula's age, aides agreed, was an unresolvable problem, creating the perception that the left in general, and his party in particular, were ill-equipped to lead the country into the future. 'The Workers Party has gotten old alongside Lula,' said a former cabinet member under Rousseff. 'It's now a party of old people who don't talk to and don't have programs for young people.' That sentiment was clear in interviews this week with 16 people, from the parks of Rio de Janeiro to the shopping malls of Brasília. A few voters said Lula's age was not a concern. 'He'll be more experienced,' reasoned Michele Gomes, 37, a nanny. But most believed his age was disqualifying. Rian Santino, 20, said he didn't feel represented by someone as old as his grandfather. 'He should step aside,' the florist said. Renato Mile, 37, looked across the fruit he was selling and shook his head at the thought of Lula. 'It's over, man,' he said. 'That's enough already.' Nearby, William Laino, 27, puffed on a cigarette. He said it hurt to admit as a progressive, but he no longer felt inspired by Lula, whose ideas weren't communicated as clearly as they once were. 'I'll still vote for him though,' he said, blowing out smoke with a sigh. 'He's the only viable option who's not hard right.'
Bloomberg
12-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Battle Over Sports Betting Threatens to Derail Lula Fiscal Plan
A fierce lobbying push by sports betting companies is threatening to bring down the Brazilian government's plan to raise revenues and hit fiscal goals after the lower house speaker backed off support for a deal he helped broker. Lower house Speaker Hugo Motta abruptly warned Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government on Thursday that he and congressional leaders had discussed moves to block the plan from taking effect, a reversal that briefly caused the country's currency to weaken.
