Sharp Surge in Political Violence Against Women and Minorities Raises Alarm Ahead of Brazil's 2026 Elections
Rising political violence against women and racial minorities in Brazil's 2026 elections prompts urgent campaigns and demands for protection and accountability.
- • Political violence against women surged 11 times in four years, with 177 cases recorded by September 2026.
- • Civil society delivered a collective note to TSE demanding urgent measures to combat gender- and race-based political violence.
- • The TSE and MPF launched the 'Politics is a Feminine Noun' campaign to raise awareness and facilitate reporting of violence.
- • Artificial intelligence tools like deepfakes are being used to harass women candidates, creating new challenges.
Key details
As Brazil approaches its 2026 elections, a worrying increase in political violence targeting women and racial minorities has mobilized civil society, electoral authorities, and prosecutors to take urgent action. Reports reveal that politically motivated gender and race-based violence has risen sharply, with cases of violence against women soaring over eleven times in the past four years alone. By September 2026, 177 incidents of violence against female candidates and parliamentarians were recorded, compared to just 15 cases in 2022.
On September 22, the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) and the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) launched the campaign "Politics is a Feminine Noun" to address this disturbing trend. The initiative features a specialized violence reporting channel, a data dashboard, and educational materials to help recognize and combat aggression. TSE President Kassio Nunes Marques affirmed the court’s commitment to managing violence data and improving justice sector training.
Civil society organizations, including Instituto Marielle Franco and Mulheres Negras Decidem, delivered a collective note to TSE President Marques on October 22, urging decisive measures to prevent attacks, ensure victim protection, investigate cases thoroughly, and hold perpetrators accountable. They highlighted alarming incidents such as death threats, sexual violence, racist and LGBTQIA+ phobic attacks, and data exposure targeting female candidates like Marina Silva and Duda Salabert. Research indicates that 87% of documented cases between 2021 and 2025 involved Black women, underscoring the intersection of gender and racial violence.
Legislative voices in Rio Grande do Norte also emphasized the need for a united front against political gender violence, regardless of party affiliation, recognizing the emotional toll on candidates and the risk of deterring women's political participation. The electoral period's critical role in democracy and the importance of voter engagement were underscored.
Technology is creating new challenges in this arena, with artificial intelligence tools like deepfakes and synthetic images increasingly weaponized to harass women candidates, complicating efforts to ensure fair political competition and gender equality.
Legal frameworks, including Brazil’s 2021 Article 326-B of the Electoral Code, provide for penalties against harassment of female candidates, and the TSE has begun actively applying these provisions. However, civil society demands further proactive steps, including clearer protocols for regional courts, improved victim support, preservation of digital evidence, and regular communication with victims.
With nearly 160 million voters expected on October 4, these developments cast a spotlight on the urgent need for effective protection of democratic participation rights, especially for marginalized groups. The growing political violence against women and racial minorities presents a critical test for Brazil’s electoral justice system and society’s commitment to democracy and equality.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
