Brazilian woman who says she escaped rape hopes TAP will accept her conviction

• At the airport: Portugal’s public prosecutor accuses immigration inspector of attempting to rape Brazilian woman
• Where is Francisca? ‘No one answers,’ says brother of missing woman in Portugal

The Brazilian court ordered TAP to pay R$20,000 in compensation to the 30-year-old Brazilian woman. She revealed to Portugal Giro that she escaped rape after being directed to the room with a strange man and another guest.

She remembers there is one more call. And he wants the Portuguese company to accept the decision and review the procedures. When contacted, TAP indicated that it did not comment on legal issues.

— I want to close this door with dignity and continue my life, she said.

“When we go through a situation like this, the first reaction is usually guilt, as if we have somehow put ourselves in danger.

Then comes anger: against the aggressor, for invading my space and my body; and TAP, which, despite all its resources, chose to place a woman in such a vulnerable situation.

Faced with such difficult feelings, it is natural to want the compensation to be significant, to cover the damage and to represent a victory over all that was done wrong.

But, to be honest, for now, what I want most is for TAP to accept the decision, without prolonging this process, so that I can turn this page and move forward.

Reliving this history, even while seeking justice, is not easy. I want to close this door with dignity and continue my life.

I sincerely hope that TAP will review its procedures and never put anyone in danger again. And let men understand, once and for all, that a woman’s body is never an invitation.

(As a testimony to the Giro de Portugal).

Remember the case published on the blog in September:

The Brazilian has Italian nationality and was traveling to Lisbon, where she works as an environmental consultant.

She revealed to Portugal Giro that flight TP 439 at 9:05 p.m. on May 31 had been canceled. TAP has scheduled a new departure from Paris (Orly – TP 429) to Lisbon for June 1, at 10:20 a.m.

According to her, the passengers were already on the plane, but had to leave and go to the TAP help desk, which was distributing hotel room reservation vouchers.

— I was informed by a TAP employee that there were not enough single rooms and that I would have to share a room with other passengers — he declared, continuing:

— I refused, demanding a room of my own, but was informed that this was not an option: either I accepted or I paid out of my own pocket, which was not feasible for me in Paris.

The consultant said she was given a hotel room near the airport with a German woman and a Brazilian man. Both unknown to the Brazilian, but identified on the voucher.

— During the night, the German woman left the room and I woke up with the naked man on top of me, kissing my neck, holding me, trying to rape me — he revealed:

— Fortunately, I managed to defend myself, I shouted and he left the room. However, the traces of the episode remain.

• Sale: The privatization of TAP will be carried out in part by the government of Portugal
• Save: TAP reaches two million passengers on the routes between Portugal and Brazil

In Lisbon, she said she received no response when she asked TAP for help. But he received counseling from the Portuguese Victim Support Association (APAV).

— I then sought support in Brazil, both psychological and legal, and filed a lawsuit against the company, for moral harassment and negligence, — he said.

According to her, who filed a complaint for sexual harassment in a Brazilian police station, TAP offered compensation:

— Proposal for a settlement of R$5,000 without apology or acknowledgment of the error. This is an obstacle in trying to recognize the case, to have a voice, change and security for women – he said.

The German companion warned in a note that she was going to leave. She returned to the airport and then agreed to testify in writing:

— I was informed that I would be sharing a room with two other strangers, including the Brazilian. I couldn’t sleep and decided to return to the airport, leaving the Brazilian with the stranger.

The German also wrote that she found the Brazilian “visibly emotionally shaken” the next day. And he completes his testimony:

— The division of rooms was imposed by the company. flight, without any possibility of refusal or individual choice, placing (the passengers) in a situation of vulnerability and insecurity.

The Brazilian said she decided to make the episode public to alert other passengers. She assured that she was not only seeking compensation, but also accountability:

— How many other complaints from women in vulnerable situations have been silenced due to lack of support or strength to continue? I had Brazil on my side. And the Portuguese?

• New unit: The police approach towards immigrants in Portugal will be more incisive
• Channel closed: Portugal returns to its promise to make life easier for Brazilians

The Brazilian hired lawyer Nathália Magalhães, who explained that proceedings were underway before the Special Civil Court requesting a compensation ceiling of R$50,000.

— Unfortunately, we were very disappointed to see that, despite the process, the company did not send an apology or show concern — said the lawyer:

— We are awaiting the judgment. During a hearing, TAP offered R$5,000. It is unacceptable that they can only offer accommodation in this hotel and in shared rooms. This is humiliating treatment.

Portugal Giro had access to the process in which TAP is defended by a Brazilian law firm. In a digital audience, the company started by offering R$3,000 until making the final proposal.

According to the lawyer, his client felt even worse because of the negligence she claimed to have suffered from the company. Portuguese airline.

— Now, with their behavior during the process, she feels even worse and her intention is for her story to be shared to warn other passengers — she said.

Contacted, TAP did not respond.

On September 2, the press service sent the official position of the company. air after a new request from the column. The text follows:

“We clarify that TAP Air Portugal regulations do not provide for the allocation of unknown passengers in the same room, except in cases where they are under the same reservation, traveling together or have expressly expressed their interest and availability for such an arrangement.

In the event of unavailability of accommodation in hotels previously defined by the company, TAP guarantees that any costs that the passenger may incur to ensure their own accommodation will be duly reimbursed, provided that they are proven and formally requested.

Concerning the events occurring during the stay in Paris, we inform you that any TAP measure is subject to the conclusion of the investigation and investigation by the competent local authorities.

The contact established by the company with the passenger, as well as the proposal presented, refer exclusively to civil matters arising from the cancellation of flight TP439, the subject of the ongoing legal action in Brazil.