Brazil Holds Nationwide 'Mulheres Vivas' Protests Demanding Urgent Action on Femicides

Overview

• Demonstrations took place on Sunday in Brasília, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza and dozens of other cities under the banner 'Basta de feminicídio; queremos as mulheres vivas'.
• First lady Janja Lula da Silva joined the Brasília rally alongside multiple cabinet ministers, as organizers reported actions in at least 20 states.
• The federal government published a social post listing 'danger signs' in relationships, while President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pressed for harsher measures and the Chamber’s women’s committee advanced a bill to curb sentence progression for such crimes.
• Official data show a worsening crisis, with a record 1,459 femicides in 2024, more than 1,180 already in 2025, and an estimated 3.7 million women experiencing domestic violence in the past year.
• Protesters cited recent high‑profile cases—including the attempted femicide of Tainara Souza Santos, the Cefet‑RJ double killing and the murder of army corporal Maria de Lourdes—and demanded 24‑hour women’s police stations, rapid protective measures, specialized services, parity in public posts and regulation of online platforms.