Gender-Based Political Violence Hinders Women's Participation in Brazilian Politics
Violence against women in Brazilian politics persists despite legal protections, with efforts underway to combat and prevent such abuses.
- • Law 14.192 criminalizes political violence against women with penalties including imprisonment.
- • Over 300 cases of political violence against women are being monitored by the Electoral Public Prosecutor's Office Working Group.
- • Violence includes physical aggression, online attacks, harassment, and campaign funding restrictions.
- • Experts stress the need for legislative improvements, judicial awareness, and political party accountability.
Key details
Despite legal advances with the 2021 Law 14.192 criminalizing violence against women in politics, gender-based political violence remains a significant barrier to female political engagement in Brazil. The law defines violence broadly, including physical aggression, insults, threats, harassment, and economic campaign constraints, and prescribes prison sentences of one to four years and fines for offenders.
The Gender Political Violence Prevention Working Group of the Electoral Public Prosecutor's Office (GT do MP Eleitoral) is actively addressing this issue amid an election year. It currently monitors over 300 cases of political violence nationwide, with approximately 50 formal complaints seeking prosecution. Online attacks and threats targeting women and their families are common tactics used to discredit and silence female politicians.
Raquel Branquinho, coordinator of the Working Group, identified entrenched patriarchal societal structures as the root of these violent behaviors that discourage many women from political participation. She emphasized the need for legislative improvements, including expanding protections to pre-candidates and other vulnerable groups. The Working Group recently held a training course with around 80 justice system professionals and civil society representatives to improve response and protection for victims.
Nathalia Mariel, deputy coordinator, stressed the importance of prompt state intervention and the role of political parties, which are legally required to adopt internal rules against political violence. She also underscored that parliamentary immunity should not shield criminal acts or violent rhetoric, highlighting the necessity to counterfreedom of expression defenses often invoked by aggressors.
These efforts reflect the intersection of legal reforms, judicial awareness, and political accountability necessary to combat gender-based violence and safeguard women's democratic participation in Brazil.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
