Brazilian Candidates Court Women with Promises to Combat Violence

RIO DE JANEIRO -- As Brazil grapples with record levels of violence against women, presidential candidates are making campaign promises aimed at courting the female vote, which accounted for 53% of the electorate in the previous election. The issue has gained prominence following several high-profile cases that have drawn widespread public condemnation.

Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has adopted a tough-on-crime message, vowing to impose chemical castration on "rapists and child abusers." He also proposes expanding shelters for victims and creating an AI assistant to help victims report crimes and seek protection.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who narrowly won the 2022 election, has pledged to expand protections introduced during his administration. These include real-time monitoring of perpetrators with electronic ankle bracelets. Lula also addressed the issue at the United Nations General Assembly, stating, "We’re building a Brazil (…) free of femicide, where no woman, inside or outside the home, lives under the threat of violence."

Both candidates are seeking to appeal to swing voters, including women, as polls suggest neither is expected to win outright in the upcoming Oct. 4 vote, making a runoff likely.

Gender-based violence is a significant concern in Brazil. A 2025 report by the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety indicated that over one-third of women experienced sexual or gender-based violence in a year, the highest since tracking began in 2017. In 2025, femicide reached its highest annual total since the crime was defined in law in 2015.

Recent cases that have fueled public outrage include the alleged gang rape of a teenager in Copacabana, the death of a woman dragged for a kilometer by her ex-boyfriend's car, and the alleged killing of a military police officer by her husband.

Activists are actively engaging with candidates, urging them to commit to prioritizing gender-based violence, support legislation to criminalize misogyny, and advance a shared legislative agenda. "Women have a long history of social mobilization in Brazil, but lately it became clear to these movements that the state matters and that they need to dispute that power," said Marlise Miriam de Matos Almeida, a political scientist at the Federal University of Minas Gerais. She added that feminist movements are working to organize the female vote to increase the number of women elected to office.

Despite women's electoral significance, female representation in Brazilian politics remains low, with only about 19% of lawmakers and senators being women, according to a study by the Esfera Institute. The number of female candidates for the lower house also saw a decrease in 2026 compared to 2022.

Experts note that a lack of funding to implement existing laws and protective measures contributes to the problem. Feminist candidates emphasize the need for vigilance in ensuring the execution of public policies aimed at combating violence and promoting women's rights.

Groups like the Forum of Women of Pernambuco are prioritizing both the defense of abortion rights and a multifaceted approach to gender-based violence, including educational programs. Carmen Silva, a member of the forum, stated, "Of course it’s easier to get commitments during the electoral period, but when women candidates are elected, we will cash in on those demands."