Brazil's Electoral Public Ministry Mobilizes Swift Measures to Combat Gender-Based Political Violence in 2026 Elections

As Brazil approaches the 2026 elections, the Electoral Public Ministry, through the Procuradoria-Geral Eleitoral (PGE), has issued critical directives to promptly address and prevent gender-based political violence against women candidates. Under Orientation No. 1/2026, prosecutors are mandated to act immediately once signs of such violence emerge, even without a victim’s formal complaint, emphasizing rapid preservation of evidence and victim protection.

The comprehensive guidance includes urgent judicial measures, victim dignity maintenance, and aggressive prosecution of perpetrators. Since Law No. 14.192/2021 criminalized gender-based political violence, acts such as harassment, intimidation, threats, and humiliation targeting female political actors are punishable by 1 to 4 years imprisonment, with tougher penalties for offenses against pregnant women, those with disabilities, or women over 60. Online hostility is also addressed, with prosecutors authorized to request digital platform interventions per TSE Resolution No. 23.610/2019.

The Electoral Public Ministry also urges political parties to adopt internal prevention policies and adjust statutes to combat such violence actively, reinforcing accountability among party members. To date, the Ministry’s working group has monitored around 370 cases of political violence against women since 2021, resulting in 66 official charges.

Adding to these protective initiatives, a free online course titled ElegE-Las is available to enhance women's political participation, available for registration until May 7, 2026. This program aims to address the enduring underrepresentation of women—who constitute merely 18% of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies—through educational sessions on democracy, electoral finance, political communication, and gender-based political violence.

Janina Onuki, a course coordinator, highlights the necessity of effective gender quota implementation to foster greater female political inclusion and more representative public policies. Running from May 7 to June 25, the course blends academic expertise and practical insights to empower women for the forthcoming elections.

Together, the PGE’s robust prosecutorial approach paired with educational efforts like ElegE-Las reflect a multi-faceted strategy to ensure safer, more equitable political participation for women in Brazil’s evolving democratic landscape.