The petition argues that the practice of removing the condom in the middle of sexual intercourse without consent be criminalized. Artist Liliana Cunha, who recently reported a wave of harassment allegations in Portuguese jazz, is one of the faces behind the petition.
One, launched this Saturday, appeals to the Assembly of the Republic and the Ministry of Justice so that the stealthing – the practice of removing the condom during sexual intercourse without consent – becomes a crime in the Brazilian Penal Code.
The signatories also want the creation of specific evidence collection protocols that respect international good practices and educational campaigns to raise awareness of the population on this topic. The practice is a “clear violation of sexual consent”, exposing victims to risks such as sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies and psychological trauma, the petition states.
The petition also highlights that countries such as Spain, Switzerland, Germany and some North American states already recognize stealthing as a form of sexual assault. However, Portuguese legislation does not address this issue specifically, leaving victims without legal tools to report.
The document mentions possible strategies for collecting evidence, such as immediate medical reports, digital communications validated by experts and statements from victims.
This petition comes after the sexual abuse scandal that is rocking the art world came to light. Liliana Cunha, known artistically as Tágide, is one of the names driving the petition and recently accused him of rape and stealthing. Liliana Cunha’s complaint gave rise to a wave of more than 80 other reports similar cases of sexual harassment and persecution in Portuguese jazz.
So far, the petition has 1069 signatures. In accordance with the rules of the Assembly of the Republic, petitions with at least 1000 signatures are published on the Assembly Diary and petitioners have the right to be heard. If the number of subscribers exceeds 7500, the topic will be discussed in plenary.
