Categories
DEMOCRACY ELECTION 2022 EQUALITY SOCIAL INCLUSION

Bolsonaro and sexual exploitation of adolescents: A note by the PT

The Women’s Secretariat of Brazil’s Workers Party (PT) issues letter of repudiation on President Jair Bolsonaro’s comments about an alleged encounter with child prostitutes.

The Workers’ Party repudiates and denounces the statements on pedophilia and the sexual exploitation of teenagers by Jair Bolsonaro, during an interview this week. It is unbelievable that a President of the Republic could go to the outskirts of town, meet underage girls, assume that they are at his service, say that “there was chemistry” between them and ask to enter their house.

The President is showing the nation that he is nothing more than an idler at the service of xenophobia, pedophilia and child sexual exploitation. In Jair Bolsonaro’s mind, it is unimaginable that young Venezuelans would “dress up” simply because they are young. In Bolsonaro’s mind, underage girls in a slum can only “dress up” to satisfy his and/or other men’s desires. In Bolsonaro’s mind, underage girls are likely to be approached by adult men with pedophile intentions.

The women of the PT and all over the country watched, scandalized and outraged, at this confession about underage girls in which he said “there was chemistry” between an adult man and 14 and 15 year old girls. The president has overstepped all barriers and is dragging the entire country towards complete barbarism. The naturalization of violence against women is a hallmark of this sexist president, who uses the social vulnerability and territorial origin of women to trivialize misogyny, xenophobia, pedophilia and child sexual exploitation in the public opinion. A president who needs to shout on stage how “erect” he is demonstrates to the country that, in order to self-affirm his masculinity fetish he is capable of overstepping all laws and civilizatory standards.

This is definitely not the president Brazil wants. This is not the president Brazil needs. The Workers Party will trigger all appropriate legal measures in all possible venues, so that absurdity and barbarism are not trivialized, “lost” or buried in bureaucratic processes.

We cry out to civil society for the defense of women and girls throughout the country. We demand the reestablishment of civilizatory standards. We demand that the crimes be punished and that the highest office of the Republic is once again honored and dignified with the respect, deference and liturgy that the office demands – in the name of all Brazilian women who exist today and for all women who will be born in the future.

PT National Executive

PT National Women’s Secretariat

PT/DF Women’s Secretariat

By Brian Mier

Writer, geographer and former development professional who has lived in Brazil for 26 years. Former directorate member of the Fórum Nacional de Reforma Urbana (National Urban Reform Forum). Has lived in São Luis, Recife, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Author of “Os Megaeventos Esportivos na Cidade do Rio de Janeiro e o Direito á Cidade” (CEPR: Porto Alegre. 2016). Editor of "Voices of the Brazilian Left" (Sumare: São Paulo. 2018). Editor of "Year of Lead: Washington, Wall Street and the New Imperialism in Brazil" ((Sumare: São Paulo. 2019) Irregular correspondent for the Chicago radio show This is Hell.