Brazil witnessed a powerful wave of defiance recently as tens of thousands of women, joined by some men, took to the streets nationwide to vehemently protest the alarming surge in femicide and gender-based violence. The demonstrations, ignited by a series of high-profile and deeply disturbing cases, echoed through major cities like Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, demanding an immediate halt to the killings, rapes, and systemic misogyny plaguing the country.
A Cry from the Streets
In Rio de Janeiro, demonstrators symbolically laid dozens of black crosses, some bearing stickers with potent messages like "machismo kills." Sao Paulo's Paulista Avenue resonated with chants of "Stop killing us" and placards boldly declaring, "Enough of femicide." The protests served as a collective outpouring of grief, anger, and an unwavering demand for justice.
Among the courageous voices in Rio's Copacabana was Alline de Souza Pedrotti, whose sister was tragically murdered on November 28 by a male colleague unable to accept female authority. "I’m devastated," Pedrotti shared, "But I’m fighting through the pain... I want changes in the legislation and new protocols to prevent this kind of crime from happening again."
Horrific Incidents Fueling Outrage
The recent protests were spurred by several shocking incidents. In Sao Paulo, also on November 28, Taynara Souza Santos, 31, endured horrific injuries after her ex-boyfriend deliberately ran her over and dragged her for a kilometer, leading to the amputation of her legs. Viral video footage of this brutal attack shocked the nation. Just days prior, on November 21 in Florianopolis, English teacher Catarina Kasten was sexually assaulted and strangled to death on a beachside trail.
Isabela Pontes, participating in the Sao Paulo rally, described these cases as "the final straw." Having personally experienced multiple forms of abuse, she declared, "I am here to show our voice."
A Growing Crisis and Systemic Challenges
Despite Brazil passing a law in 2015 recognizing femicide – defined as the killing of a woman in the domestic sphere or due to contempt for women – the statistics are grim. Last year saw 1,492 women fall victim to femicide, the highest number since the law's inception, according to the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety.
Juliana Martins, a gender-based violence expert at the Forum, noted not only an increase in numbers but also in the "intensity and cruelty of violence." She attributes this paradoxical rise to social transformations towards equality, which often trigger violent backlash from those seeking to reassert women's subordination.
Echoing this sentiment, 79-year-old Lizete de Paula from Rio observed that men with misogynistic views felt emboldened during former President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration, which dismantled public policies supporting women's rights.
However, there's also a growing recognition among men of their role in combating this violence. Joao Pedro Cordao, a 45-year-old father of three daughters, emphasized men's duty to actively challenge misogyny in both protests and daily life. "Only then will we be able to put an end to – or at least reduce – the current violence against women," he asserted.
The nationwide rallies underscore a critical juncture for Brazil, where collective action and legislative reform are urgently needed to protect women and foster a society free from gender-based violence.