New Law Introduces Dedicated Airtime on 'Voz do Brasil' to Combat Violence Against Women

Brazil has passed a landmark law mandating that the official radio program 'A Voz do Brasil' dedicate one minute of its daily airtime to disseminating information about services aimed at preventing and addressing violence against women. This initiative, established by Law 15.423 signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, aims to bolster public awareness and improve access to support for women facing domestic violence.

The specific one-minute segment will be incorporated into the portion of the program allocated to the Chamber of Deputies, which currently accounts for 20 minutes of the broadcast. 'A Voz do Brasil,' launched in 1935 and recognized as Brazil's oldest official radio program, currently airs 60 uninterrupted minutes daily, covering news from the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches. This new segment will promote essential services such as Ligue 180, a hotline providing assistance and guidance to women in need.

The legislation traces back to Bill PL 754/2023, proposed by Deputy Lídice da Mata of the PSB party, and was approved by the Senate in May with the support of Senator Damares Alves. Alves highlighted the critical social impact of spreading information about support networks, stating that the daily broadcast will encourage more victims to report abuse and help reduce underreporting.

Radio stations nationwide are required to broadcast 'A Voz do Brasil' from 7 PM to 10 PM on weekdays, excluding weekends and holidays, ensuring that the information reaches a broad audience consistently. This measure is expected to enhance the visibility of resources for women and contribute to the national efforts to combat domestic violence in Brazil.