Brazil Faces Challenges and Efforts in Enhancing Women's Political Participation Amid Rising Violence

In 2025, Brazil continues to confront significant challenges and strides concerning women's political participation and reproductive rights. The Tribunal Regional Eleitoral (TRE) of Mato Grosso recently convened a virtual meeting with over 60 participants to discuss ways to strengthen the presence of women in politics and combat political violence against them. The session underscored the legal mandates requiring political parties to allocate at least 30% of campaign financing, proportional candidacies, and electoral advertising time for women. Despite these measures, only 91 women currently hold federal deputy positions out of 513, highlighting ongoing gaps in representation.

Concurrently, Brazil is witnessing a disturbing increase in violence against women, with over 2,700 severe aggression cases and more than 1,075 feminicides recorded in 2025. The congressional approval of Project of Legislative Decree 3/25 threatens legal abortion access for minors who are victims of sexual violence by suspending protections previously ensured by the National Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents. Anthropologist Débora Diniz criticizes the politicization of abortion as patriarchal and intimidating, arguing it diverts attention from pressing social issues like the daily births of 57 girls under 14. She advocates for greater inclusion of women and youth in political spaces to transform dialogue around reproductive rights and representation.

These developments underscore Brazil's complex landscape where efforts to increase women's political clout coexist with systemic violence and legislative regressions on women’s rights, prompting calls for sustained and inclusive reforms.