Latest news with #Carnaval
Associated Press
20 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
Mid East Info
11-06-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Operate your Open Market, Restaurant or Coffee shop at Global Village Season 30 - Middle East Business News and Information
Global Village, the region's premier multicultural family destination for culture, shopping, and entertainment, is inviting interested individuals to submit their proposals for the 'Restaurant and Coffee Shops' category as well as the 'Open Market' category for its upcoming milestone Season 30. The categories offer an exciting avenue for entrepreneurs to bring their innovative culinary and open market concepts to life at key locations across the destination, such as at the diverse Road of Asia and the famous Indian Chaat Bazaar. The opportunity is also available for those interested in submitting proposals for a new open market concept. Season after season, restaurant and retail partners have witnessed impressive success with the support and stability offered by Global Village. Season 29 welcomed a 10.5 million guests record and brought together over 3,500 shopping outlets and over 250 dining options along with more than 75 new partners. Global Village also supported the launch of 80 new concepts across the different business categories. Global Village's commitment to providing a welcoming environment, paired with its dedication to showcasing the world's vibrant cultures, makes it an ideal platform for businesses to thrive and create lasting connections. About Global Village: Global Village is the region's premier multicultural family destination for entertainment, dining, shopping and attractions. The destination boasts a growing popularity and a profound connection with the guests, solidifying its position as the region's number one (#1) entertainment and cultural hub. Since opening its gates in 1997, Global Village has welcomed over 100 million guests, with Season 29 achieving a new proven record of a crowd footfall of 10.5 million. Season 29 hosted 30 pavilions representing over 90 cultures, with more than 3,500 shopping outlets and over 250 dining options. The park was home to 400+ world-class performers featured in 40,000 shows. Guests enjoyed over 200 rides and games at Carnaval, making Global Village home to the largest and most diverse range of events, shows, shopping and dining experiences. Information on Season 30 will be announced soon.
CBS News
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Weekend To Do List: Greek festival, carnaval and makers market in Massachusetts
Weekend To Do List: Greek festival, makers market and a carnaval in Massachusetts Weekend To Do List: Greek festival, makers market and a carnaval in Massachusetts Weekend To Do List: Greek festival, makers market and a carnaval in Massachusetts Kick off the start of June with two festivals and a makers market in Massachusetts! Makers Market in Norwood Shop dozens of vendors with handmade goods and vintage finds at a Makers Market on Sunday. Head to Castle Island Brewing Company in Norwood to shop, sip and snack with local pizza, sandwiches, drinks and more. Catch the fun from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. When: Sunday, June 1, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Where: Castle Island Brewing Company, 31 Astor Ave., Norwood Cost: Items available for purchase Click here for more information 2025 Carnaval in Somerville Carnaval returns to Somerville Sunday to kick off the 2025 Somerstreets season. Put on your dancing shoes from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and enjoy live music, family-friendly activities, unique cuisine, vendors and a special parade. The rain date is June 8. When: Sunday, June 1, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Where: East Somerville Business District - Broadway from McGrath Highway to Pennsylvania Avenue, Somerville Cost: Items available for purchase Click here for more information Woburn Greek Festival The Woburn Greek Festival is going on this weekend. Enjoy lively Greek music, cultural eats, shopping, dance performances and more at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. The festival takes place from Friday through Sunday. When: Friday, May 30 and Saturday, May 31 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday, June 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Christian Church, 70 Montvale Ave., Woburn Cost: Items available for purchase Click here for more information
CBS News
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Meet the newly crowned Queen of Carnaval San Francisco, Zoel Mendoza
SAN FRANCISCO — For Zoel Mendoza, the newly crowned 2025 Queen of Carnaval San Francisco, this is no ordinary crown — it's a symbol of renewal, identity, and cultural celebration. As she rehearses at Casa de Carnaval ahead of the city's iconic Mission District parade, Mendoza said Carnaval represents far more than music and dance. "Carnaval is a celebration. It is, what we say in Portuguese, 'Uma limpeza' — it cleans energy. It brings in new things. It opens doors. It's almost like the beginning of a new year. It's a renewal," she said. That sense of renewal is deeply personal for Mendoza. As an Afro-Mexicana, she said this year's theme, Afro-Mundo, resonates with her own story — one shaped by a layered and evolving relationship with race and identity. "Afro-Mundo really, really resonates with me. Especially because I'm Afro-Latina. And it's something that I kind of struggled with when I was younger," Mendoza said. "I felt I didn't really land in one camp or the other. So, I had a bit of an identity crisis." Through dance — and with training in Brazil and other cultural centers — Mendoza found clarity and confidence in her identity, as well as a calling to uplift others on similar journeys. In her new role as queen, she hopes to shine a light on fellow artists and deepen the impact of Carnaval's vibrant legacy. "I really believe in community, and I really want to bring on as many artists as I possibly can," she said. "Platform them, work with them, collaborate with them. Because that's how culture grows, and that's how it's passed — by sharing the space." Mendoza currently shares her passion for samba while building spaces where others in the diaspora can also feel seen and celebrated. "Being crowned this year means so much to me because not only have I found my own identity in something that is 100 percent me," she said, "but I'm crowned in a year that really feels like a year that celebrates people like us — who are part of the diaspora, those who are very aware of who they are in the diaspora, and those that are lost, like I was. So it feels like I'm coming home with a win, and I'm very grateful." It's that gratitude, rooted in rhythm and joy, that Mendoza now brings to every step of her Carnaval reign.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
San Francisco Carnaval parade highlights rich culture of historic Mission District
SAN FRANCISCO - It's Carnaval weekend, and those who celebrate took to the streets in the historic Mission District Sunday morning for the annual San Francisco Carnaval Parade. Aztec dancers blessed the start of San Francisco's 46th annual Carnaval Parade, where attendees had their cultures on display, loud and proud. "Vestimenta, this is from Bolivia. And this is celebrating highlight spinners, spinning thread in the altiplano," said Carnaval dancer, Holly Flores. Flores is half Bolivian, and she says staying connected to her community is a huge part of Carnaval. "It's very healing, it's very special, we're a strong community. I learned that around the 50s and 60s, there were 400 Bolivian families that immigrated to Northern California, and this group is the descendants of those families. We're still connected," Flores told KTVU. Carnaval is meant to honor the diverse Latin American, Caribbean, and African diasporic roots of the Mission District. San Francisco's Carnaval celebrations started back in 1979. Since then, hundreds of thousands of attendees have poured into the city streets at the festival each year. Some folks see it as a prime opportunity to shine a light on their countries and cultures. Gaynor Ann Siatchea has been attending the Carnaval celebrations in San Francisco since its inception in 1979. "It's culture and continuing to feel that. This is ours, and we belong. And as a native San Franciscan, it's important," Siatchea said. Among the dozens of floats in the parade was a sea of classic lowriders from several car clubs across California."It means a lot because we grew up here in this district," Francisco Jesus Antolin, president of Justlowriders Bay Area Car Club, told KTVU. Antolin grew up in the Mission District, and he says his lowrider is more than just a truck; it's a connection to his culture and his community. It also carries the memory of someone near and dear to his heart. A portrait of his late mother is painted over the engine of his truck. "It's been five years since she's been gone…" Antolin said. "I feel grateful…Because wherever I go, she's with me."
