Brazil Advances Initiatives to Combat Digital Political Violence Against Women
New measures in Curitiba and the Federal Senate aim to counteract digital political violence against women and support female candidates ahead of the 2026 elections.
- • Curitiba proposes an observatory to monitor and combat digital political violence against women.
- • The observatory will collect data, produce reports, and run awareness campaigns.
- • The Senate launched 'Guia da Candidata' offering legal and logistical guidance to female candidates.
- • The ZAP Delas channel provides legal support to victims of political violence, complementing electoral preparations.
Key details
The city council of Curitiba is advancing a new legal proposal to establish the Observatório da Violência Política Digital de Gênero e/ou Raça contra Mulheres. Led by councilwoman Vanda de Assis (PT), the observatory aims to monitor and combat digital political violence targeted at women by gathering data from various institutions, creating databases, and launching educational campaigns to raise public awareness. This violence includes attacks such as doxxing, fake news, threats, intimidation, and defamation, which directly impact female political participation and contribute to underrepresentation in political power.
Meanwhile, the Federal Senate's Procuradoria Especial da Mulher launched the updated 'Guia da Candidata,' a practical manual offering legal and logistical support to female candidates facing barriers related to gender, race, and class. Senator Augusta Brito (PT-CE) emphasized the often silent, yet pervasive violence women endure in political spaces, especially through digital platforms. The guide encourages candidates to document instances of political violence, use formal complaint mechanisms, and leverage technological tools like the Pardal app and Siade system to report irregularities and combat misinformation. The launch also introduced the ZAP Delas channel, a legal support service for victims of political violence, particularly timely with the upcoming 2026 elections.
These initiatives reflect Brazil’s growing institutional commitment to addressing gender-based digital political violence and fostering greater female political participation through data-driven policies and practical support resources. The Curitiba proposal awaits legal review, while the Senate continues promoting tools to empower women in the political arena.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
