If you see a man persistently pressing against a woman who is trying to move away:
Legally, the tide has turned. The aforementioned Law 13.718/2018 was a watershed moment. Before 2018, encoxada was often classified as a "disturbance" or importunação ofensiva ao pudor (offensive disturbance of modesty)—a lesser crime. encoxada praia
Today, importunação sexual (sexual importunity) covers any non-consensual act for lustful purposes. In 2023 alone, Rio de Janeiro registered over 300 cases of importunação sexual on beaches during the New Year's Eve (Réveillon) and Carnival periods. If you see a man persistently pressing against
The Challenge: Enforcement The problem is prova (proof). On a crowded beach, how do you prove the genital contact was intentional? Police often rely on witness testimony. However, the "blue ocean" effect—everyone looking at the sea, no one looking at the bodies—makes witnesses rare. On a crowded beach, how do you prove
Operation Beach Safety: Some states have launched Patrulhas da Praia (Beach Patrols) with female police officers in plain clothes, posing as sunbathers to catch encoxadores in the act. During Carnival 2024 in Salvador, 12 men were arrested within 48 hours for encoxada.
Regardless of the setting (bus, subway, beach, concert), an encoxada praia is not a prank, a game, or a harmless accident. Under Brazilian law (Lei 13.718/2018), committing an act of sexual harassment — including rubbing against someone without their consent for sexual gratification — is a crime. Penalties include 1 to 5 years in prison. The beach environment does not make it acceptable or legal.