Femicide in Brazil: If women must arm themselves the state has failed

Every year, March brings with it speeches, flowers and public tributes to mark International Women’s Day. Yet Brazil faces a reality that cannot be glossed over by ceremonial gestures. According to the “National Map of Gender-Based Violence” published by Brazil’s Senate, 1561 cases of femicide were recorded nationwide in 2025 – the highest figure since the crime was legally classified as such in 2015. This figure equates to almost four women killed every day.

National data shows that most of these crimes are committed within intimate relationships. The Brazilian Public Security Forum reports that more than 70 % of femicides are committed by current or former partners. Many of these killings take place in the home, often following a documented history of abuse.

The scale of the crisis is highlighted at regular intervals by new horrifying reports. At the end of January 2026, a 17-year-old girl was gang-raped in a flat in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro. Five young men are alleged to have been involved: four adults – two aged 18 and two aged 19 – as well as a 17-year-old who was identified as the victim’s ex-boyfriend. According to investigators, he exploited their former relationship and her trust to persuade her to go into the flat. The suspects have turned themselves in, but the investigation is ongoing.

In February, a woman was stabbed more than 30 times after rejecting a man’s advances. She survived, having been in a coma. Following the attack, videos began circulating on TikTok in Brazil showing men hitting and stabbing shop mannequins, accompanied by the slogan: “Training for when she says ‘no’.” In November 2025, a 31-year-old woman was run over by an acquaintance in São Paulo and dragged for almost one kilometre. She lost both legs as a result of her injuries and died weeks later due to complications. In another case, a 71-year-old woman was sexually assaulted by the driver on a city bus in Rio de Janeiro.

The consequences extend far beyond the immediate victims. Between 2021 and 2025, 660 children in the state of Rio Grande do Sul lost their mothers as a result of femicide – a stark reminder of the intergenerational trauma caused by gender-based violence.

Sale of pepper spray by law

Brazilian law provides for prison sentences of 20 to 40 years for femicide, and recent legislative changes have expanded protective measures, including firearms restrictions, restraining orders and electronic monitoring of perpetrators. Nevertheless, the gap between the legal provisions and their actual enforcement remains a cause for concern. On paper, the perpetrator is not allowed to approach the victim. In practice, however, monitoring is not always consistent and violations are not always dealt with promptly.

This, again, has led to measures such as those taken in the state of Rio de Janeiro, where a law was recently passed allowing the sale of pepper spray in pharmacies specifically as a means of personal protection for women. The initiative was presented as a way of offering women more options for self-defence in their daily lives.

But this law also reveals a troubling contradiction: if women have to arm themselves in order to feel safe in public spaces, institutional protection has already failed. The authorisation of pepper spray appears to be an emergency measure whilst structural safeguards continue to fall short.

Gender-based violence as a global emergency

International organisations classify gender-based violence as a global emergency. A research report by UN Women estimates that around 50,000 women and girls were killed in the domestic sphere in 2024 – accounting for around 60 % of all intentional homicides of women and girls. This means that on average 137 women and girls are killed every day by a member of their own family.

Brazil is a prime example of this global crisis. In many cases, a formal complaint is followed by legal proceedings resulting in a clear ruling that holds the perpetrators to account. On paper, protection is in place. In reality, however, court decisions on femicides are not always enforced. Not all perpetrators are subject to effective electronic monitoring. Not all women receive continuous support from protection networks. Not all receive a rapid response when violations are reported.

Furthermore, data suggests that gender-based violence in Brazil goes largely unreported. A study conducted by a consortium of three universities found that up to 98.5 % of cases of psychological violence, 75.9 % of cases of physical violence and 89.4 % of cases of sexual violence are underreported. This situation is often linked to fear of reprisals, emotional or financial dependence on the perpetrator and a lack of trust in the institutions. As a result, many cases remain hidden, and the official data reflect only a fraction of the reality.

All this leads to a sense of impunity for perpetrators. If a perpetrator assumes that law enforcement is lax, that the authorities will be slow to respond and that the victim will be left to fend for herself if she decides to report the crime at all, the risk of the violence recurring increases. Formal prosecution does not automatically translate into tangible safety. And it is precisely in this tension between legislation and implementation that many tragedies unfold, not only in Brazilian families.

Thuany Rodrigues is a journalist in Brazil.  
thuanyrodriigues@gmail.com