Brazil Confronts Soaring Violence Against Women as Judiciary Faces Pressure

Overview

• The Justice Ministry reports daily averages of four femicides, seven other homicides of women and girls, and 196 rapes in 2025.
• FBSP/Datafolha finds 21.5 million women 16 or older experienced violence in the past year, with sharp increases across insults, threats, stalking, physical aggression, and sexual abuse since 2023.
• Recent cases have been carried out in public and recorded, including the Marginal Tietê attack that led to double amputation and the double killing of two federal school employees by a co-worker using a legally acquired firearm.
• STF president Edson Fachin condemned the surge in gender violence in a plenary address, calling the protection of women's lives a constitutional duty and an imperative for society.
• Coverage highlights systemic gaps in protection as ISTOÉ reports women comprise about 38% of judges, while studies indicate benches with more women show tougher responses to sexual and domestic violence and the CNJ promotes gender-perspective protocols.