Laws, decrees, initiatives and events: Brazil’s federal government is taking broad action on International Women’s Day

It is a very special and highly symbolic date, focused on fighting for women’s rights – but Brazil’s federal government also considers International Women's Day a great opportunity to announce measures that support women and ensure their rights. On March 8, a series of actions were carried out across tthe Brazilian executive branch. All these initiatives were made official at an event at the Planalto Palace, in Brasília (DF), at 10 AM last Wednesday (8). President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; the Minister for Women, Cida Gonçalves; and representatives from 19 other ministries and from banks Banco do Brasil, CAIXA and the Brazilian Development Bank (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social/BNDES) were present.

It’s 2023 – and the fact that Brazil still registers a femicide every seven hours, and a rape every ten minutes, is totally unacceptable. We’re reestablishing our special Women’s Call Center – Call 180 (Central de Atendimento à Mulher – Ligue 180) to take care of victims and strengthen the struggle against these barbarities. This number is for registering complaints against any type of gender violence. Calls are free of charge from anywhere in Brazil, and the service operates 24 hours a day.
Cida Gonçalves, Minister for Women

One of these important government measures is a bill to be sent to the National Congress promoting equal pay for men and women who perform the same function. The Executive branch’s bill establishes measures towards greater remuneration transparency within companies, and towards expanded inspection and combating of wage discrimination.

Check out other images from the International Women's Day celebration ceremony and announcement of set of actions

“Every time one looks for this law, one realizes that it does already exist – but there are so many nuances to it, so many commas, that everything seems to have been done to actually hinder women’s rights. So we need a law that says: women MUST earn the same salary as men when they perform the same function – and that's it! No commas! If this salary isn’t paid, someone will have to supervise this,” said President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the event that reestablished the National Council for Food and Nutritional Security (Conselho Nacional de Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional/Consea) last week.

On March 7, Minister for Women Cida Gonçalves made a statement on radio and television, highlighting the many challenges to be faced – and pointing out the grave context of violence against women in Brazil.

“It’s 2023 – and the fact that Brazil still registers a femicide every seven hours, and a rape every ten minutes, is totally unacceptable. We’re reestablishing our special Women’s Call Center – Call 180 (Central de Atendimento à Mulher – Ligue 180) to take care of victims and strengthen the struggle against these barbarities. This number is for registering complaints against any type of gender violence. Calls are free of charge from anywhere in Brazil, and the service operates 24 hours a day,” she said.

The Minister also announced that the Women Living Without Violence (Mulher Viver sem Violência) program will be reestablished, with implementation of 40 Brazilian Women's Houses (Casas da Mulher Brasileira); resources from the National Public Security Fund (Fundo Nacional de Segurança Pública); and a BRL 372 million investment. The program will also donate 270 vehicles to the Maria da Penha Patrol service (Patrulha Maria da Penha) across all Brazilian states.

Moreover, a decree will be published providing for regulation of the 8% quota of the workforce that are specially for women who were victims of violence within public contracts in Brazil’s direct federal administration, autarchies and foundations.

Additionally, March 14 will now be established as National Marielle Franco Day – a date focused on combating political violence based on gender and race. The Rio de Janeiro councilwoman was murdered on March 14, 2018.

Find out more about other Brazilian federal government initiatives of March 8:

CONVENTIONS AND COALITIONS — The federal government is going to ratify International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Convention 190 – the first global treaty to recognize the right of all people to work that is free from violence and harassment, including gender violence. Among other measures, Convention 190 expands concepts of sexual and moral harassment at work.

Brazil is also going to join the Equal Pay International Coalition, which includes organizations such as the ILO, UN Women and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). A new policy to combat sexual and moral harassment and discrimination within Brazil’s federal public administration will also be launched.

HEALTH AND MENSTRUAL DIGNITY — A decree dealing with menstrual dignity will be launched as part of efforts to ensure women’s rights also in the field of health, including the commitment to distribute free sanitary pads through Brazil’s Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde/SUS). Additionally, a gender and race equity program will be launched for SUS servers.

EDUCATION AND SPORT — The resumption of work on 1,189 day care centers that were at a standstill is another important commitment. Vacancies in professional and technological education courses and programs will also be ensured for 20,000 vulnerable women over the next two years.

Concerning sports, the main novelty is a decree that determines maternity leave for Athlete Aid (Bolsa Atleta) receivers. The idea is to guarantee respect – in a broad sense – for maternity and for pregnant women. The decree ensures regular program installments for high-performance athletes until beneficiaries may begin or resume their sports activities.

CULTURE AND TOURISM — Within the scope of cultural actiion, the highlight is the Ruth de Souza Audiovisual public notice in support of new Brazilian filmmakers who are making their first feature films. BRL 10 million will be invested. Another effort is to encourage literature through BRL 2 million for the Carolina Maria de Jesus Award (Prêmio Carolina Maria de Jesus) for unpublished books written by women.

SCIENCE AND RESEARCH — A decree establishing the National Policy for Inclusion, Permanence and Ascension of Girls and Women in Science, Technology and Innovation will also be signed. It is estimated that there will be a BRL 100 million CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development/Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) public call for women within exact sciences, engineering and computing.

ECONOMY AND INNOVATION — Working for the economy and towards the creation of jobs and opportunities is also on the list of these Brazilian federal initiatives. The Rural Women's Economic & Productive Organization (Organização Produtiva Econômica das Mulheres Rurais) program is going to launch a call for rural technical assistance for rural women, including a BRL 50 million investment and the prospective assistance of up to 20,000 women.

CREDIT AND ACCELERATION — Public banks will also take special action. Through Banco do Brasil, five Agro Women (Agro Mulher) trucks are going to criss-cross Brazil offering women special credit, financial services, and training for legal and natural persons. CAIXA, on the other hand, is offering the Women in the Favela (Mulheres na Favela) program, qualifying women in three social innovation laboratories in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Salvador. BNDES, in turn, will emphasize its Garage Project (Projeto Garagem), with acceleration of startups led by women.

WORKING GROUPS — Inter-ministerial working groups focused on guaranteeing human rights will also be established. One of them is going to be focused on developing a National Care Policy (Política Nacional de Cuidados). Another will develop a National Plan for Equal Salary, Remuneration and Labor for Women and Men (Plano Nacional de Igualdade Salarial, Remuneratório e Laboral entre Mulheres e Homens). A third group will be focused on establishing a Policy to Combat Moral and Sexual Harassment and Discrimination within Public Administration (Política de Enfrentamento ao Assédio Moral e Sexual e Discriminação na Administração Pública); another will foresee Combating Political Violence based on Gender and Race (Enfrentamento à Violência Política de Gênero e Raça); and yet another will develop a National Policy for Inclusion, Permanence and Ascension of Girls in Science, Technology and Innovation. Lectures, events, seminars and debates are scheduled for the entire month across various Brazilian ministries.