full version - World Organisation Against Torture

BrazilA survey on legal abortion in Brasilia 95 points out that services providedby the Medical legal institute of the Federal District to women victims ofrape only deal with the criminal part of the problem, leaving the socialand psychological issues aside. While women victims of rape are in needof an effective and humane health service, they encounter a lack of speciallytrained professionals and prejudice-tainted attendance. Most interviewedwomen did not receive orientation regarding their rights on legalabortion or AIDS prevention and treatment.The fecundity rate in Brazil remains quite high at 2.3 children perwoman. 96 Furthermore, this average is not highly representative sincefecundity rates vary considerably according to the women’s level of educationand across regions. 97 As recently as 1998, 98 a surprisingly highnumber (38,4%) of women gave birth to their first child when they wereunder 19 years old. In the North, this figures overpasses 51%, while in theNortheast and Center West values attain respectively 41.7% and 43.2%. In1998 almost one out of every four mothers had not yet reached her 20 thbirthday, 99 and this figure has been on the rise since 1994, when that agegroup concerned one out of every five mothers. 100 More alarming is thefact that almost 2% of women become mothers when they are between 10and 14 years old. This figure rises to 3.4% in the North, 2.3% in theNortheast and 2.4% in the Center West.7. Conclusions and RecommendationsBrazil has, in recent years, introduced several initiatives aimed at promotingand protecting the human rights of women. The new Civil Code of2003 embodies in full the Constitutional principle of equality betweenwomen and men. However, violence and other forms of discriminationagainst women remain problems in the country. Women continue to faceinequality in many aspects of their lives such as high levels of unemployment,unequal representation in government, unequal educational opportunitiesas well as discrimination in the family sphere.OMCT is deeply concerned by the prevalence of domestic violence inBrazil. In spite of the fact that domestic violence is a punishable act,domestic violence against women has not been reduced. As well as constitutinga violation of articles 3, 10 and 11 of the ICESCR, the high rates95