Brazil Launches National Protocol to Combat Gender-Based Political Violence Amidst Controversies in Women's Commission

On March 26, 2026, the Brazilian federal government unveiled a national protocol designed to prevent political violence against women. This initiative establishes rules for receiving, notifying, directing, and monitoring cases of gender-based political violence, reinforcing the 2021 Gender Political Violence Combat Law. The law targets acts of harassment, humiliation, persecution, and threats against female candidates and elected officials.

Minister of Women Márcia Lopes highlighted the wider impact of political violence, stating that it affects not only candidates and elected women but also community leaders, activists, and human rights defenders, many of whom have significant political influence without formal mandates. Lopes also noted a growing trend of such violence during election periods, especially amplified on the internet with attacks frequently targeting women's gender, accompanied by other discrimination forms such as racism. She emphasized that political violence is inseparable from the broader context of violence against women in Brazil.

Judge Suzana Massako Loreto de Oliveira, from the National Justice Council, underscored the democratic implications by saying, "Political violence against women is not an isolated or episodic phenomenon. It acts as a mechanism of exclusion, restricting women's access, presence, and voice in power and decision-making spaces... compromising both individual trajectories and the quality of the democratic regime."

The protocol emerged from cooperation between key institutions including the Electoral Public Ministry, the Ministries of Women and Justice, the Federal Public Defender's Office, and the National Justice Council.

However, the political environment remains challenging. The Chamber of Deputies' Commission for the Defense of Women's Rights includes two male members, including Éder Mauro, who has a documented history of misogyny and accusations of threatening female deputies. While Erika Hilton, a trans woman, was recently elected commission president, sparking controversy over representation, the presence of men with problematic backgrounds—such as Mauro and substitute members like Mauricio Marcon, recently removed for gender quota fraud—continues to raise questions about the commission's effectiveness in protecting women's rights.

Additionally, Pastor Eurico proposed revoking the law guaranteeing comprehensive care for sexual violence victims, further complicating efforts to address gender-based violence politically. This contrasting picture highlights the complexity of combating political violence against women in Brazil, signaling persistent resistance within political institutions even as official measures advance.