In the first days of the coronavirus outbreak, anonymous notices were left in the lifts of residential buildings in Brazil, offering help and shelter to women who were entering lockdown with their abusers. Some also included warnings targeting abusers. “You can’t hide behind COVID-19! We are watching and we will call the police,” said one such message.
In Rio de Janeiro’s most deprived neighbourhoods, grassroots activists are also using WhatsApp to spread vital information about the pandemic’s evolution and about hygiene measures to avoid infection. Via text messages, voice memos, catchy memes and infographics, they’re sharing tips on how to access financial aid – and how to get help in case of domestic abuse.
“As children we learn to help each other, to be community-minded, understanding that the survival of another woman is our own survival,” says Aline Maia Nascimento from the Observatório de Favelas, the grassroots group in Rio de Janeiro coordinating these WhatsApp messages.
