The Women's Secretariat installs "Ask for Help" signs during Carnival to expand access to the protection network in Rio.

The Rio de Janeiro City Hall, through the Municipal Secretariat for Women's Policies and Care, will begin installing informational signs during Carnival with the message "Ask for help! www.mulher.rio | 1746", with the aim of expanding women's access to the municipal support network in cases of violence or harassment. The action is carried out in partnership with the Municipal Secretariat for Conservation and Public Services and with operational support from CET-Rio.

"Violence against women is not tolerated during Carnival or any other time of year. These signs are in strategic locations because the information needs to be where women are. We also included the message in English to make it clear: all women, whether from Rio or tourists, can find a specialized and free support network in Rio," says the Secretary of Policies for Women, Joyce Trindade.

The partnership with the Municipal Department of Conservation and Public Services is essential to ensure that the initiative reaches strategic points in the city and has wide visibility during the biggest popular festival in the country.

"The Department of Conservation is committed to women's issues, especially in preventing violence against women," emphasizes Secretary Diego Vaz.

The signs will be placed in strategic, high-traffic locations during Carnival, such as the Preta Gil Circuit, Avenida Atlântica, Marquês de Sapucaí, and the City Parks. In this first phase, the initiative covers the following parks: Oeste, Realengo, Madureira, and Piedade, with plans for gradual expansion to other parts of the city after the Carnival period.

This measure follows a strategy already adopted in other cities and countries as a way to raise awareness of the fight against violence against women in public spaces. Similar experiences exist in Spain, in cities such as Calpe, San Vicente del Raspeig and Móstoles, as well as initiatives in Mexico and Switzerland. In Brazil, similar actions have already been implemented in places like Recife, Petrópolis, Itatiaia and Curitiba, contributing to expanding information and facilitating requests for help.

In Rio de Janeiro, the sign directs you to the platform. www.mulher.rioThis service brings together information on psychological support, legal guidance, specialized services, and referrals to the municipal network, as well as access to the 1746 helpline and guidance on calling 190 in situations of immediate risk. The goal is to ensure that women know, in a simple and visible way, where to seek support if their rights are violated.