(New York) - Amnesty International reveals the devastating toll of violence against women in Brazil's lawless "favelas," or shanty-towns, in a new report released today that highlights abuse of women both by drug gangs and by police. Growing numbers of women - due to deprivation or under duress -- are hiding guns or transporting illegal drugs as "mules" and end up in Brazil's overcrowded, unsanitary prison system, subject to beatings, torture and rape..
