Brazil Faces Resistance in Implementing National Policy to Combat Gender-Based Violence
Brazil struggles with high femicide rates and political resistance as the government seeks to implement national policies to combat gender-based violence.
- • Four women are murdered daily in Brazil, with 1,350 femicides last year.
- • Nearly 65% of femicides happen inside the home.
- • The Ministry of Women has a small budget and faces resistance in Congress.
- • Efforts include the National Pact for Prevention of Femicides and calls for specialized police training.
Key details
Brazil continues to grapple with alarmingly high levels of gender-based violence, with an average of four women murdered daily and 1,350 femicides recorded in the past year. Minister of Women Márcia Lopes highlighted that nearly 65% of these femicides occur inside victims' homes, illustrating the profound domestic nature of the threat. The state of São Paulo has notably seen a record number of cases, underscoring the pervasive challenge across the country.
Despite efforts by the government to strengthen laws against femicide and introduce intersectoral programs, significant hurdles persist. The Ministry of Women operates with a limited budget and faces substantial resistance within Congress, complicating the approval and expansion of protective legislation for women. Lopes attributed the rise in violence to the dismantling of previous public policies, notably the merging of the Ministry of Women with other departments under the former administration.
The government is promoting initiatives like the National Pact for the Prevention of Femicides, which seeks commitment from state and local governments to implement coordinated actions. However, mobilizing these entities remains challenging. Additionally, Lopes stressed the need for specialized police training to improve victim support and called for greater societal engagement to combat entrenched machismo culture and inadequate police responses.
This situation unfolds amid upcoming elections, adding political urgency to addressing women's safety. While legislative and programmatic measures are underway, the effectiveness of these actions is yet to be fully realized, leaving women in Brazil vulnerable to continued violence.
Overall, the Brazilian government faces a complex landscape of social, political, and institutional obstacles in confronting gender-based violence, with strong calls from the Ministry of Women for comprehensive, intersectoral mobilization and enhanced resources to protect women from femicide and systemic abuse.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
