Brazil Moves Forward with Bill to Criminalize Misogyny Equating it to Racism
Brazil's Chamber of Deputies prepares to vote on a law criminalizing misogyny, defining it alongside racism and setting severe penalties amid rising feminicide and online hostility against women.
- • Deputy Tabata Amaral presented a new version of Project of Law 896/23 to criminalize misogyny.
- • The bill equates misogyny with racism, making it inafiançable and imprescriptible.
- • Definition of misogyny updated to include 'disrespect or discrimination' against women.
- • The proposal includes penalties and provisions addressing online misogynistic communities.
- • 367 girls under 18 were victims of feminicide in the last five years, highlighting urgency.
Key details
On October 6, 2026, Brazilian Deputy Tabata Amaral presented a revised version of Project of Law 896/23, aiming to criminalize misogyny by equating it with racism. The bill, which has already been approved by the Senate and awaits a vote in the Chamber of Deputies later this month, seeks to make misogyny an inafiançable (non-bailable) and imprescriptible (non-expiring) crime.
Amaral updated the definition of misogyny in the legislation, replacing the terms 'hatred' and 'aversion' with 'disrespect or discrimination' based on the "condition of woman." She emphasized that misogyny is a deeply rooted structural phenomenon linked to gender power inequalities and stressed the urgency of implementing the law, citing alarming feminicide statistics and the rise of hostile online communities known as the 'machosfera.' The bill proposes penalties of 2 to 5 years imprisonment for misogynistic crimes and includes aggravating factors, especially when offenses are committed against children, adolescents, or individuals with disabilities.
Additionally, the bill addresses the digital sphere by allowing temporary suspension of online accounts spreading illegal misogynistic content. Deputy Talíria Petrone highlighted the unified stance among female deputies and underscored that, in the past five years, 367 girls under 18 were victims of feminicide in Brazil.
The proposal is undergoing final adjustments before being voted on by the working group by June 16, after which it will proceed to the Leaders' College and the Chamber Plenary. Amaral also mentioned supplementary measures to tackle digital violence and improve support and investigations for victims of misogyny.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
