Coordinator of the Movement of People Affected by Dams is a victim of femicide in Porto Alegre.
Murdered by her husband, Débora Moraes is remembered for her tireless fight alongside those affected by the dam collapse in the capital.
By Marcelo Ferreira, from Rede Brasil Atual - The coordinator of the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB) in Porto Alegre, Débora Moraes, was a victim of femicide, this Monday (12), at her residence, in Vila dos Herdeiros, in the eastern part of the capital of Rio Grande do Sul. The murder was committed by her husband, who was arrested in flagrante delicto, according to the 1st Specialized Police Station for Women in Porto Alegre. Débora leaves behind a 6-year-old daughter. About 8 years ago, she lost a 9-year-old daughter in a traffic accident.
According to Delegate Fernanda Campos Hablich, the man arrested in the act will be indicted for femicide. “The police investigation was opened today and investigations are underway. Débora's current husband was arrested in the act at the crime scene yesterday. After investigations by the Civil Police at the scene, we brought the suspect to the Women's Police Station, reviewed witness statements and evidence from the scene, and formally charged him,” she explains.
In a statement published on social media, the MAB Rio Grande do Sul denounced the crime, expressed its outrage at the murder of their fellow activist, and offered its condolences to her family and friends. They stated that they repudiate “all types of violence against women, which continue to be normalized and present alarming rates in Brazil.”
She also highlighted her history of resistance alongside the population of Porto Alegre, "tireless in the fight for the rights of those affected by the Lomba do Sabão dam," always at the forefront of dialogue with neighbors and community residents. According to the MAB, she was very present in the first phase of resettlement of those affected and in mediating with the responsible public agencies.
The Municipal Council for Women's Rights (Comdim) of Porto Alegre also issued a statement expressing "great sadness and outrage at the news of the murder." "Débora is yet another woman whose life has been brutally taken by her husband. ENOUGH! We don't want to lose any more women to this boundless hatred."
The Feminist Uprising Against Femicide in Rio Grande do Sul expressed "deep indignation" and denounced the murder committed by Débora Moraes' husband. In showing solidarity, they stated they will remain vigilant "so that impunity does not further mark this crime." They also criticized the abandonment of public policies aimed at women victims of violence.
“We demand public policies for prevention and care for all women in situations of violence and denounce the federal, state, and municipal governments that have turned their backs on women, destroyed the support network, and, in this way, allow the hatred promoted by Bolsonaro's fascist government to be fueled, which must be defeated,” she states.
Federal Deputy Maria do Rosário (PT/RS) also expressed her condolences on social media, sending solidarity to Débora's friends and family and her comrades in the MAB. She demanded "immediate accountability for the murderer" who ended her life "with a cruelty that cannot go unpunished."
The MAB coordination, friends and family will hold an event this Wednesday (14), in memory of Débora Moraes, to demand justice for her and so many women who are victims of violence and will denounce the conduct of the current president, which encourages violence. The gathering will be at 15 pm, at Esquina Democrática, with a walk to the Legislative Assembly, in Porto Alegre.
Femicides on the rise in Rio Grande do Sul.
The murder of Débora by her husband adds to a reality of violence against women in the state. According to the State Observatory of Public Security, of the Public Security Secretariat (SSP), up to August, 75 women were victims of femicide in the state. This is the highest number of femicide cases from January to August since the series began being recorded in 2012. The Feminist Magnifying Glass Against Femicide counts 76 femicides since the beginning of 2022.
In a recent interview with Brasil de Fato RS, the judge overseeing the State Coordination of Women in Situations of Domestic and Family Violence of the Court of Justice of Rio Grande do Sul, Taís Culau de Barrosa, drew attention to the worrying increase in femicides. In her assessment, the state needs investments in the various sectors involved with this issue.
“For example, there is a lack of shelters that could receive these women and their children, a shortage of police officers in specialized precincts, and we need to increase the multidisciplinary teams involved in the processes. At some point, there are failures in the inclusion of women in the protection network, and their exclusion hinders the fight against violence,” the magistrate highlighted.
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