Brazil Formalizes Sala Lilás as Permanent Women's Safety Initiative within SUS
Brazil has made Sala Lilás a permanent policy within the SUS health system, providing specialized support spaces for women affected by violence.
- • Sala Lilás formally integrated into Brazil's SUS health units since 2024 via Law No. 14.847/2024.
- • Ministry of Health issued guidelines ensuring Sala Lilás provides confidential, secure, and specialized care for women victims of violence.
- • The initiative complements existing laws like Maria da Penha Law and Femicide Law, enhancing protection.
- • Sectoral political meetings by PT highlighted ongoing discussions on gender-based political violence.
Key details
The Brazilian government has institutionalized the Sala Lilás program as a permanent public health policy to support and protect women who have experienced violence. Since 2024, the Ministry of Health has made Sala Lilás an integral part of the Minimum Needs Program for Basic Health Units (UBS) and Polyclinics, reaffirming the Unified Health System's (SUS) dedication to addressing domestic violence in a confidential and compassionate manner.
Under Law No. 14.847/2024, all SUS health services are now required to have dedicated Sala Lilás spaces. These rooms provide a secure, humanized environment that prioritizes privacy and specialized psychological care for affected women. The Ministry’s Technical Note No. 264/2024 offers detailed guidelines for states and municipalities on implementing these facilities, emphasizing placement in less trafficked areas to maximize comfort and security.
Juliana Carneiro, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Health, stressed that Sala Lilás represents a state obligation, ensuring women receive support to break cycles of violence. Architect Mirela Pilon Pessatti noted the importance of thoughtfully designed physical spaces to enhance care and recovery. The Sala Lilás initiative complements existing legal protections such as the Maria da Penha Law and Femicide Law, reinforcing Brazil's long-term commitment to women's safety.
Furthermore, the Sala Lilás program is integrated into architectural projects under the New PAC Health program, which seeks to align healthcare facilities with public policy and humanization standards. The Ministry of Health is also collaborating with UNA-SUS to provide continuous training to healthcare professionals, enabling them to identify domestic violence signs and offer comprehensive support.
In parallel, political discussions on gender violence continue, with the Workers’ Party (PT) holding sectoral meetings in late November 2025 focused on political gender violence. Edinho, a PT leader, highlighted the importance of these dialogues to engage society strategically in combating all forms of violence against women.
This multi-faceted approach indicates Brazil’s strengthening stance on permanent mechanisms to safeguard women's health and safety through health infrastructure, professional training, legal backing, and political debate.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.