Davida
Encyclopedia
Davida – Prostituição, Direitos Civis, Saúde (Prostitution, Civil Rights, Health) is an NGO
that supports sex worker
s in Brazil
. It was founded in 1992, is based in Rio de Janeiro
, and gained international notoriety in 2005 when it launched the fashion line Daspu.
against police brutality, because of the murder of a prostitute friend. In 1987 she organized the first prostitution congress, a meeting of Brazilian prostitutes to create a network of sex worker initiatives.
The name "Davida" refers to the phrase "Mulheres da Vida" ("women of life") commonly used for prostitutes in Brazil.
In 2002 pressure by Davida contributed to the Brazilian Ministry of Labor adding "sex worker" to an official list of occupations.
In 2003 Davida supported the introduction of new legislation, based on the German model
, that would have allowed prostitutes to sue for payment and would have legalized brothels. The law was not passed.
When officials moved to close hotels used by prostitutes and their customers in the historical center of Rio de Janeiro, Davida members met with the city government, performed songs at Praça Tiradentes, and were able to prevent the action.
Davida is at the center of a network of prostitute organizations all over Brazil, the Brazilian Prostitutes Network, with 20,000 members.
.
The name "Daspu" abbreviates "das putas" ("from the whores") but is also a play on the name of the luxurious São Paulo
fashion house "Daslu
" (abbreviation of "from the Lu", "Lu" being the common nickname of the founders "Lúcia" and "Lourdes"). Daslu threatened to sue over the name but soon after was embroiled in a tax evasion scandal, leading to much free publicity for Daspu in Brazil.
The first Daspu designs, in November 2005, were t-shirts. During the week of Fashion Rio 2005, several Davida prostitutes showed these at a catwalk show they had organized at Praça Tiradentes, where many of them did business. In March 2006 they hired the professional designer Rafaela Monteiro, whose work was reviewed and subject to approved by the Davida members. The designs often refer to prostitution in an ironic way, with phrases like "Lost Women are the Most Wanted", "Before the Show, Tune Your Instrument" and "We’re Bad, but We Could be Worse". The first collection, "on the piste", used motives from the world of truck drivers, the prostitutes' largest group of customers.
Daspu continued to hold several fashion shows in Rio and São Paulo, with prostitutes as models. Photos of Daspu models appeared in the Brazilian edition of Vogue
. In November 2006 they performed at the venerable São Paulo Art Biennial
under the direction of the Slovenia
n artist Tadej Pogacar, culminating in the presentation of a wedding dress made from flophouse towels and condoms, shown by an HIV-positive prostitute. Some pieces from Daspu have been on offer at a Paris
fashion house, and the French lingerie designer Fifi Chachnil has declared she will represent the line. In April 2008, members of Davida exhibited items in Milan
that were created together with the Italian designer Antonio Cagianelli. Daspu presented its 2009 collection in parallel to the São Paulo Fashion Week
in June 2008.
While the sale of fashion does not yet create substantial net income for Daspu, a 2008 report by the Open Society Institute
lauded the project for its innovative way to create publicity and to increase public acceptance of prostitutes. Gabriela Leite sees as a main benefit of the project the increased self-confidence of the participating women.
parades, street serenades by 12 vocally trained prostitutes, and a theater play about AIDS, prostitutes and human rights. In July 2007 Davida released a book, As Meninas da Daspu ("The Daspu Girls"), featuring interviews with nine prostitutes. The book was introduced with a bikini show in a book store.
In April 2009, Gabriela Leite released her autobiography
, titled Filha, Mãe, Avó e Puta ("Daughter, Mother, Grandmother and Slut"). In June 2010, it was announced that the book will be used as base for an upcoming film of the same title. Gabriela Leite will be portrayed by Vanessa Giácomo
. The book was also transformed into a play
starring Aléxia Dechamps.
Davida and the Daspu brand were also promoted by Glória Perez
in the Brazilian soap opera Caminho das Índias
.
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
that supports sex worker
Sex worker
A sex worker is a person who works in the sex industry. The term is usually used in reference to those in the sex industry that actually provide such sexual services, as opposed to management and staff of such industries...
s in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. It was founded in 1992, is based in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, and gained international notoriety in 2005 when it launched the fashion line Daspu.
Goals
Davida works in HIV/AIDS prevention and tries to improve the working conditions and the legal and societal status of prostitutes in Brazil. Its main aim is to end the discrimination of prostitutes and the recognition of prostitution as a regular profession. Prostitution itself is not illegal in Brazil, but employing prostitutes is.Founding and name
The organization was founded in 1992 by retired prostitute Gabriela Silva Leite, who holds a degree in sociology, and her partner Flavio Lenz. In 1978 she had already organized a demonstration in São PauloSão Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
against police brutality, because of the murder of a prostitute friend. In 1987 she organized the first prostitution congress, a meeting of Brazilian prostitutes to create a network of sex worker initiatives.
The name "Davida" refers to the phrase "Mulheres da Vida" ("women of life") commonly used for prostitutes in Brazil.
Activities
Most of the members of Davida are (ex-)prostitutes. Some of them are being paid to distribute condoms and information material in the night scene of Rio. The organization is supported by the Brazilian Ministry of Health.In 2002 pressure by Davida contributed to the Brazilian Ministry of Labor adding "sex worker" to an official list of occupations.
In 2003 Davida supported the introduction of new legislation, based on the German model
Prostitution in Germany
Prostitution in Germany is legal, and so are brothels. In 2002, the government changed the law in an effort to improve the legal situation of prostitutes. However, the social stigmatization of prostitutes persists and many prostitutes continue to lead a double life...
, that would have allowed prostitutes to sue for payment and would have legalized brothels. The law was not passed.
When officials moved to close hotels used by prostitutes and their customers in the historical center of Rio de Janeiro, Davida members met with the city government, performed songs at Praça Tiradentes, and were able to prevent the action.
Davida is at the center of a network of prostitute organizations all over Brazil, the Brazilian Prostitutes Network, with 20,000 members.
Daspu
Davida developed the idea of a fashion line to raise money after Brazil turned down $40 million in U.S. anti-AIDS funding in 2005 because a U.S. law required recipients to sign an explicit anti-prostitution pledgeAnti-prostitution pledge
The U.S. federal government requires non-governmental organizations that receive federal anti-HIV/AIDS or anti-trafficking funds to adopt an organization-wide policy opposing prostitution and sex-trafficking. This requirement, known as the anti-prostitution pledge, has been in place since 2003...
.
The name "Daspu" abbreviates "das putas" ("from the whores") but is also a play on the name of the luxurious São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
fashion house "Daslu
Daslu
Daslu is a posh multi-brand boutique-department store in São Paulo, Brazil. The boutique is known as the "fashion designers mecca" of Brazil as it houses more than 60 labels plus 30 store-in-stores and is the place where Brazilian socialites, ranging from multi-millionaire soccer players to...
" (abbreviation of "from the Lu", "Lu" being the common nickname of the founders "Lúcia" and "Lourdes"). Daslu threatened to sue over the name but soon after was embroiled in a tax evasion scandal, leading to much free publicity for Daspu in Brazil.
The first Daspu designs, in November 2005, were t-shirts. During the week of Fashion Rio 2005, several Davida prostitutes showed these at a catwalk show they had organized at Praça Tiradentes, where many of them did business. In March 2006 they hired the professional designer Rafaela Monteiro, whose work was reviewed and subject to approved by the Davida members. The designs often refer to prostitution in an ironic way, with phrases like "Lost Women are the Most Wanted", "Before the Show, Tune Your Instrument" and "We’re Bad, but We Could be Worse". The first collection, "on the piste", used motives from the world of truck drivers, the prostitutes' largest group of customers.
Daspu continued to hold several fashion shows in Rio and São Paulo, with prostitutes as models. Photos of Daspu models appeared in the Brazilian edition of Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
. In November 2006 they performed at the venerable São Paulo Art Biennial
São Paulo Art Biennial
The São Paulo Art Biennial was founded in 1951 and has been held every two years since. It is the second oldest art biennial in the world after the Venice Biennial , which serves as its role model....
under the direction of the Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n artist Tadej Pogacar, culminating in the presentation of a wedding dress made from flophouse towels and condoms, shown by an HIV-positive prostitute. Some pieces from Daspu have been on offer at a Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
fashion house, and the French lingerie designer Fifi Chachnil has declared she will represent the line. In April 2008, members of Davida exhibited items in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
that were created together with the Italian designer Antonio Cagianelli. Daspu presented its 2009 collection in parallel to the São Paulo Fashion Week
São Paulo Fashion Week
The São Paulo Fashion Week is a fashion event, held at Ibirapuera Park, in São Paulo, notable as "Latin America's pre-eminent fashion event," according to one report. It began in 1996, when the event was known as Morumbi Fashion Brazil. It won the current name in January 2001. Today, the event is...
in June 2008.
While the sale of fashion does not yet create substantial net income for Daspu, a 2008 report by the Open Society Institute
Open Society Institute
The Open Society Institute , renamed in 2011 to Open Society Foundations, is a private operating and grantmaking foundation started by George Soros, aimed to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform...
lauded the project for its innovative way to create publicity and to increase public acceptance of prostitutes. Gabriela Leite sees as a main benefit of the project the increased self-confidence of the participating women.
Other publicity projects
Davida has also attempted to create publicity in other ways, with carnivalBrazilian Carnival
The Carnival of Brazil is an annual festival held forty-six days before Easter. On certain days of Lent, Roman Catholics and some other Christians traditionally abstained from the consumption of meat and poultry, hence the term "carnival," from carnelevare, "to remove meat." Carnival celebrations...
parades, street serenades by 12 vocally trained prostitutes, and a theater play about AIDS, prostitutes and human rights. In July 2007 Davida released a book, As Meninas da Daspu ("The Daspu Girls"), featuring interviews with nine prostitutes. The book was introduced with a bikini show in a book store.
In April 2009, Gabriela Leite released her autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, titled Filha, Mãe, Avó e Puta ("Daughter, Mother, Grandmother and Slut"). In June 2010, it was announced that the book will be used as base for an upcoming film of the same title. Gabriela Leite will be portrayed by Vanessa Giácomo
Vanessa Giácomo
Vanessa Giácomo is a Brazilian film and television actress. She won the Most Promising Actress award at the 2005 Prêmio Contigo, Brazil, for Cabocla , and was nominated for the Best Actress award at the 2006 Prêmio Contigo de Cinema for Canta Maria .Giácomo made her television debut in Cabocla...
. The book was also transformed into a play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
starring Aléxia Dechamps.
Davida and the Daspu brand were also promoted by Glória Perez
Glória Perez
Glória Maria Ferrante Perez is a Brazilian television telenovela writer born in Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil. Glória Perez wrote the telenovelas O Clone and Caminho das Índias. Her only daughter, Daniella Perez, was a famous actress and was killed while acting in her mother's telenovela De Corpo e...
in the Brazilian soap opera Caminho das Índias
Caminho das Índias
Caminho das Índias is a Brazilian Emmy-winning television telenovela produced by Rede Globo and first broadcast from January 19 to September 11, 2009. It ranked within the top of the most watched shows on Brazilian television...
.
External links
- Davida home page
- Daspu home page
- Beijo da Rua, newspaper about sex work activities in Brazil
- Photos and interviews about Davida
- Photos and reports about Daspu