Black Brazilian Woman Suffered Slave-Live Conditions for More than 38 Years in Family Home
Prosecutors say that domestic worker had no salary and could not leave the home; defense criticizes disclosure before legal process
Dec.22.2020 2:45PM
A 46-year-old black woman was rescued from a home in Patos de Minas (MG) by the Public Ministry of Labor after receiving a complaint that said the victim lived in conditions similar to slavery. The case was revealed by Fantástico, from TV Globo, this Sunday (20).
According to the complaint, Madalena Gordiano performed domestic services at the residence, without receiving a salary and without the right to rest. According to this information, she was financially dependent on the family and could not leave the house.
During the inspection after which the victim was rescued, the MPT-MG found "a situation of serious violations of human rights," according to the agency's statement.
The family's lawyer said that disclosing the case before the legal process violates residents' rights and security. To the MPT, the owner of the house stated that Madalena was part of the family.
More:
https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/brazil/2020/12/black-brazilian-woman-suffered-slave-live-conditions-for-more-than-38-years-in-family-home.shtml?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsen
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Woman enslaved as a maid for nearly 40 years freed
By Fabio Teixeira
December 22, 2020 — 7.33pm
Rio de Janeiro: A Brazilian woman enslaved as a maid from the age of eight for almost four decades and forced into marriage has been rescued in a rare crackdown on domestic slavery, officials said.
The 46-year-old was found living in a small room in an apartment in Patos de Minas, in the south-eastern state of Minas Gerais. She had worked for the family for most of her life without pay or any time off, according to labour inspectors.
The victim was given up as a child by her destitute parents to the family of Dalton Cesar Milagres Rigueira, a professor at Unipam, a not-for-profit university, and raised by his mother, inspectors said.
"They gave her food when she was hungry, but all other rights were taken from her," Humberto Camasmie, the inspector in charge of the rescue, said.
Domestic servitude in Brazil is difficult to identify and tackle because victims rarely see themselves as modern slaves, officials say. Of 3513 workers found in slavery-like conditions between 2017 and 2019, only 21 were held in domestic servitude.
. . .
A misspelt note shown by Globo's Fantastico program said to have been written by Madalena Gordiano,
who did not finish her education, to a neighbour. It reads in Portuguese: "Lend me soap to shower.
You'll receive a prayer.
Madalena"
CREDIT:SCREENGRAB/GLOBO/FANTASTICO
More:
https://www.smh.com.au/world/south-america/woman-enslaved-as-a-maid-for-nearly-40-years-freed-20201222-p56pj7.html
Da boss, owner of the house, real white guy, Professor Dalton Cesar Milagres Rigueira
Madalena, standing by an all-too-symbolic chain.
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Google translation:
MG: Professor accused of maintaining a daily laborer in conditions of slavery is removed
MADALENA WAS RESCUED ON NOVEMBER 27 AND IS NOW IN A SHELTER FOR WOMEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE. CREDITS: REPRODUCTION / FANTASTIC
University professor Dalton César Milagres Regueira was removed from his duties at the University Center of Patos de Minas (Unipam) after being accused of keeping an employee in conditions similar to slavery . The decision was announced by the Educational Foundation of Patos de Minas (Fepam), the university's sponsor, after a report published by Fantástico , on Sunday 20.
The institutions stated in a note issued on Monday 21, that appropriate and legal measures are already being taken and the professor is already removed from activities at the institution.
According to an investigation by the Public Labor Ministry (MPT) and the Federal Police, Madalena Gordiano, who worked since the age of 8 at the Milagres Rigueira family home in Patos de Minas, lived for 38 years in conditions similar to slavery.
The daily cleaner, who is black and did not finish her studies, lived in the employers' house, had no record, no guaranteed minimum wage or weekly paid rest. Madalena slept in a small room, less than 3 meters long by 2 meters wide, and without ventilation.
Madalena arrived at the home of Dalton's mother, teacher Maria das Graças Milagres Rigueira to order food, at the age of eight. She offered to adopt her, but the adoption was never consummated. After 24 years, the daily cleaner went to work for Maria das Graças's son, professor Dalton César Milagres Rigueira, where he lived under the same conditions.
Also according to the MPT, neighbors were suspicious of the situation after Madalena left tickets under the door of the building's residents asking for small amounts of money to buy personal hygiene kits.
The report also found that Madalena even married the professor's wife's uncle, a former combatant in the armed forces, with whom he never lived together. The man, who died, reportedly left Madalena two pensions of approximately R $ 8,000 per month. The daily cleaner, however, said she received about R $ 200 to 300 per month from her boss.
https://www.cartacapital.com.br/sociedade/mg-professor-acusado-de-manter-diarista-em-condicoes-de-escravidao-e-afastado/
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Free, at last.
