Monica is an actress and reporter with a Brazilian TV show called CQC. CQC is a TV Show in which humor and journalism walk hand to hand. She is the only woman on the team.
As a child, Monica was assaulted and held hostage during a robbery at her home.
Consequently she has great empathy for victims of violence and believes changing attitudes is the responsibility of all.

In the following interview, Monica talks about Violence against Women. Please, see it here: http://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/en/dviolence.html

SW: "Media is an important tool to use for discussing VAW, but we know that young people [in Brazil] don’t discuss human rights a lot. Do you think that the media can reach young people?

Monica: The media can and must be the right tool to do it. But I think that right now we must focus on another important fact: impunity.

Situations of violence against women have been noticed much more than before.

The government has launched campaigns on television asking women who were survivors of VAW to denounce their perpetrators.

Now, besides our Women's Police Station, we have a hotline to help women [180], and give orientations about violence against women for the victims, for free.

There are several movies, journalistic programs [tv shows], and books about this issue; but, is it worth it if the man who is the aggressor and is arrested, did not stay in prison?

If his punishment is not effective? There are many cases of women who denounced their perpetrators , but ended up being murdered by them.

So, in this situation it is hard to trust in police work and in justice

SW: You work with a lot of men as the only woman at CQC, but you said that you didn’t face machismo (male chauvinism) at your work. Do you think that men are more sensitive of gender differences?

Monica: Men! I don’t know, but I often see proud machismo manifestations everywhere.

I do think about institutions; I think that some business companies that did not join this movement for promoting equality among men and women, black and white, homosexuals and heterosexuals will be left behind.

Besides social and environmental responsibility, people are seeking an attitude of equality from corporations. I’m working with CQC, as a good example to illustrate this.

SW: In a recent interview you talked about the importance of art as a tool to change society. How do you think this can change VAW?

Monica: We use to have access to stories about VAW through the news. It was informative, but also distant.

Art can help us by giving a closer look to the problem. Watching a movie about a little girl who sees her dad hit her mum can help you. You identify yourself with that character. You put yourself in the little girl’s place, or in the mother’s place, or even in the father’s place.

Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that theater, a soap opera, a book, a picture, or any other form of artistic expression can raise awareness in a very strong way to an issue that people did not see before, or never paid attention to, by touching their feelings.

Also, I think mothers should be more careful by educating their sons. Why must a daughter help her mum with all the house work while the son passes all his afternoon playing video games? Doesn't it sound silly? Ask your daughter about it!

 go to: http://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/en/dviolence.html to read the entire interview!!!