BRAZIL Woman received a cruel physical punishment for breaking the rules of the gang that rules the favela where she lives. From the context, it can be understood that she got drunk and revealed something or was talking to someone inappropriate. They beat her painfully on the back with a wooden plank and show no mercy, even though she pleads through tears for them to stop.
Favelas function like a state within a state. Most of them are controlled by gangs, which set their own rules, monitor their enforcement, and apply punishments. These often differ greatly from official Brazilian justice – they include physical abuse and, for some acts, even executions. Residents of favelas usually did not choose their place of residence voluntarily, and there is no advice for them other than to keep quiet and comply, because otherwise they could risk their lives.
The Brazilian government is actively trying to address the favela problem. Some favelas are “domesticated” by driving gangs out and sending police patrols. Sometimes police stations are established there as well. But it is an endless struggle, because gangs still wield enormous power in Brazil.
