Federal Prosecutors Open Inquiry Into São Paulo’s Violence-Against-Women Policies After 10% Rise in Feminicides

Overview

• The MPF’s Regional Human Rights Office in São Paulo formally launched an investigation into state policies to prevent and respond to violence against women.
• The inquiry cites a 10.01% increase in feminicides comparing January–October 2025 with the same period in 2024.
• Prosecutors issued information requests to state and municipal finance and public security departments, the state and city education secretariats, the federal Education Ministry, and the São Paulo city government.
• The review will assess allegations by Deputy Erika Hilton, based on the state audit court’s data, of R$5.2 million cut from police units and a 54.4% lower proposed 2026 budget for the Women’s Secretariat.
• The state said it will respond and asserted expanded support, citing more specialized women’s police service rooms since 2023, higher planned social-sector funding for 2026, and increases in protective measures and incident reports.