Eleven firefighters were arrested on Tuesday by the Judiciary Police on suspicion of two crimes of rape and one of sexual coercion related to a “hazing” incident involving another firefighter.
“In the name of human dignity, it is urgent to clarify, without any doubt, that sexual violence is not a hazing ritual, not a joke, and certainly not an integration ritual,” states the association supporting male victims of sexual violence, emphasizing that “treating any act of coercion or rape as ‘part of an initiation rite’ is an outrage to the victim, a perversion of the notion of camaraderie, and an insult to the very mission of public service expected of firefighters.”
Quebrar o Silêncio also expressed outrage that “individuals accused of such a grave act could continue to serve in an institution that should inspire trust and safety.”
The Fundão Court ruled on Tuesday that the 11 arrested firefighters are prohibited from contacting the victim. Eight of them are barred from entering the volunteer fire station, and three are required to report to the police weekly.
Considering the “evidence gathered so far,” the court understood there were “risks of continued criminal activity, disruption of the investigation process, and disturbance of public order and tranquility.”
“Sexual abuse constitutes a form of traumatic violence,” Quebrar o Silêncio highlights, adding that “subjecting someone to violent sexual abuse, within a context of hierarchy and supposed camaraderie, is an extreme violation of trust and personal integrity.”
The association “demands that justice is pursued with the utmost rigor: that the suspects are brought to trial, that the victims receive specialized support, and that a serious and urgent reflection on the internal culture of fire brigades is initiated, so that this type of violence is never disguised under the guise of hazing again.”
The Humanitarian Association and the command of the Fundão Fire Department also indicated on Tuesday that there will be “disciplinary, employment, and institutional consequences,” including expulsion if necessary, should the accusations against the 11 members be confirmed.
