Búzios inaugurates Red Bench to honor victims of feminicide

The municipality of Búzios, located in the Lakes Region of Rio de Janeiro, has inaugurated the ‘Banco Vermelho’ (Red Bench) as a tribute to victims of feminicide. The initiative, part of the ‘Búzios por Elas’ campaign, was held at Praça dos Ossos to connect the local population with the municipal protection network for women and provide information on support services.

The site of the inauguration holds historical significance, as it is where Ângela Diniz, known as the ‘Pantera de Minas’, was murdered in 1976. Her case became a landmark in the Brazilian public debate regarding gender violence. Following an initial trial where the defense used the ‘legitimate defense of honor’ argument to secure a light sentence, social pressure and feminist mobilization led to a retrial that resulted in a 15-year prison sentence for her killer, Doca Street.

The Red Bench is dedicated to the memory of Diniz and all women whose lives were ended by violence, serving as a symbol for the prevention and confrontation of feminicide.