Find out more about Brazil’s new laws and decrees to combat violence against women

Originally published on Mar.8, 2023

At the beginning of last month, on the morning of March 8 – a day that symbolizes the struggle of women around the world towards inclusion and equality –, Brazil’s federal government announced several measures to combat gender violence and protect the lives and dignity of all Brazilian women.

In the field of security, Brazil’s main new policy is the resumption and expansion of Mulher Viver sem Violência (or Women Living Without Violence), a program that increases and integrates public services for women facing violence.

"This is 2023 – and the fact that Brazil registers a rape every ten minutes and a feminicide every seven hours is absolutely unacceptable", said the Minister of Women, Cida Gonçalves. "This has got to stop".

Statistics show that, every day, three Brazilian women are murdered simply because they’re women. Today we’re presenting a set of measures to put an end to this barbaric reality, but we must go beyond fighting this intolerable physical violence against women
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

» High resolution photos of the event (Flickr)

One of the program’s measures is the resumption of the Central 180 helpline, which registers complaints against any type of gender violence and offers information and guidance on how to proceed when facing it. Calls are free from anywhere in Brazil and the service operates 24 hours a day.

The program will also establish 40 Casas da Mulher Brasileira (or Brazilian Women's Houses). All in all, BRL 372 million will be invested in resources from Brazil’s National Public Security Fund (Fundo Nacional de Segurança Pública). Minister Cida Gonçalves also announced the distribution of 270 Maria da Penha Patrol police cars for special Women’s Police Stations across all Brazilian states.

"Statistics show that, every day – including on this 8th of March, when we celebrate Women’s Day –, three Brazilian women are murdered simply because they’re women", observed President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. "Today we’re presenting a set of measures to put an end to this barbaric reality, but we must go beyond fighting this intolerable physical violence against women", he added, shortly after signing a decree to bring back the Mulher Viver sem Violência program.

The president also signed a bill that will be sent to the National Congress to establish March 14 as annual National Marielle Franco Day to Combat Political Violence based on Gender and Race.

This tribute to the popular Rio de Janeiro councilwoman – brutally murdered on this day in 2018 – will hopefully raise awareness about the violence suffered by women in politics, especially black women.

According to information from Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (Tribunal Superior Eleitoral/TSE), women are still underrepresented in politics – despite the fact that they represent 53% of the Brazilian electorate. In the 2022 elections, for example, women were elected to only 90 of the 513 Chamber of Deputies (Câmara dos Deputados) seats: 17.7% – and to only four of the 27 Senate (Senado Federal) seats: 14.8%.

Before closing the event, President Lula signed a decree that changes Brazil’s Bidding Law and establishes a minimum 8% of priority job vacancies for women who are victims of domestic violence – and especially black and brown women – in companies that are hired by the federal public administration.