Brazil Highlights Efforts and Challenges in Combating Political Violence Against Women Ahead of 2026 Elections
As Brazil approaches the 2026 elections, government bodies showcase and discuss efforts to combat political violence against women amidst ongoing challenges reflected in low female political representation.
- • Political violence against women has been a crime in Brazil since 2021, with over 400 cases monitored by MP Eleitoral.
- • Women hold only 17% of seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 18% in the Senate, with Brazil ranking 138th globally in female political representation.
- • Political parties are required to reserve at least 30% of candidacies for women and distribute campaign resources proportionally.
- • International observers and experts discussed Brazil’s challenges and legislative advances in political gender violence during the TSE's International Guests Program.
Key details
As Brazil prepares for the 2026 general elections, significant attention has been drawn to addressing political violence against women, a persistent barrier to female political participation in the country. Recently, international observers from 25 countries visited Brazil to examine the Electoral Public Ministry's (MP Eleitoral) initiatives combating this issue, highlighting ongoing efforts and challenges.
Since 2021, political violence against women has been recognized as a crime in Brazil. The MP Eleitoral has monitored over 400 cases and filed more than 90 criminal complaints concerning gender-based political violence. One key strategy includes mandating political parties to reserve at least 30% of candidacies for women and ensuring the proportional distribution of campaign resources. In addition, a national campaign titled "Política é substantivo feminino" was launched to raise awareness and assist in identifying and reporting such violence.
Despite these advances, female political representation remains low, with women occupying only 17% of seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 18% in the Senate, placing Brazil 138th out of 189 countries globally. This contrasts with the South American average female representation of 31.5%. Prosecutor Raquel Branquinho emphasized that cultural patriarchy, insufficient party support, and gender violence continue to impede women's access to political power.
These issues took center stage during the second day of the International Guests Program hosted by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), which focused on gender parity in global politics. TSE Director Renata Gil acknowledged advances and ongoing difficulties faced in combating gender violence in Brazil. Minister Estela Aranha spotlighted the misogyny women in power endure, often facing personal attacks beyond legal scrutiny.
The program also included insights from Mexican electoral advisor Norma Irene de La Cruz, who presented Mexico's gender parity law, which achieved 50% female parliamentary representation, underscoring the importance of sustained female mobilization. Discussions extended to emerging challenges such as disinformation and the use of artificial intelligence during elections, with TSE’s Frederico Alvim outlining ongoing strategies to counter misinformation.
Brazil's electoral registry now numbers 159 million voters, with significant improvements in accessibility, indicating a mobilized electorate ahead of the 2026 vote. However, the intersection of political violence and gender remains a critical issue to address to ensure equitable participation and representation of women in Brazilian politics moving forward.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
