Brazilian Senate to Debate Feminicide; Government Amplifies Campaign Against Violence During Carnival
Brazil’s Senate plans a major debate on feminicide post-Carnival amid rising cases, while the government boosts its Ligue 180 campaign to combat violence against women during Carnival.
- • The Brazilian Senate will debate feminicide after Carnival, led by Senator Paulo Paim.
- • 1,470 feminicide cases were reported in 2022; 68% of victims were Black women.
- • A National Pact for the Prevention of Feminicides was signed by leaders of all three government branches.
- • The government is intensifying the Ligue 180 hotline campaign during Carnival in seven major cities to raise awareness and support victims.
Key details
The Brazilian Senate is preparing to hold a thematic debate on feminicide after the Carnival period, a move championed by Senator Paulo Paim (PT-RS). Paim's request (RQS 74/2026) awaits approval, with the urgency underscored by troubling statistics: in 2022, Brazil reported 1,470 feminicide cases, of which 68% involved Black women. Paim described feminicide as the tragic outcome of ongoing violence that reduces women to property and normalizes subjugation. He called for immediate, effective interventions and plans to involve ministries and civil society in the discussion. This initiative aligns with the recently signed National Pact for the Prevention of Feminicides, an agreement among Brazil’s three government branches aimed at implementing comprehensive strategies to tackle this critical issue.
Parallel to legislative efforts, the Brazilian government has intensified its promotion of the Ligue 180 hotline during the Carnival season to combat harassment and violence. Starting February 12, personalized SMS messages were sent to women in seven key Carnival cities: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Recife, Olinda, and Maceió. These messages highlight that any non-consensual behavior is a crime and encourage victims and witnesses to report incidents. Ligue 180 offers a free, 24/7 service providing support, guidance, and reporting channels for violence against women, coordinated by the Ministry of Women through the National Secretariat for Combating Violence. The campaign also warns against fraudulent messages, clarifying that government communications do not include clickable links and advising users to verify authenticity via the official Gov.br platform and WhatsApp blue checkmarks.
Together, these legislative and preventive outreach actions represent a comprehensive approach by Brazilian authorities to address the structural problem of feminicide and violence against women, especially during high-risk periods such as Carnival. Senator Paim emphasized that feminicide is a systemic issue requiring urgent action, and public awareness initiatives like Ligue 180 are essential for protecting women during celebrations and beyond.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
