Brazil expands social assistance programs for incarcerated women

Social assistance programs in Brazil are being expanded to support women within the prison system and those transitioning back into society. In one initiative, the State Secretariat for Social Assistance (Seas) has extended its Menstrual Dignity Program to include women in semi-open regimes and former inmates. The expansion provides 1,800 sanitary pads to ensure access to basic menstrual hygiene products for these vulnerable populations.

In Rio Grande do Sul, the state government has also distributed 114 maternity kits through the Mãe Gaúcha Program. These kits, intended for pregnant women and new mothers in the prison system, aim to provide essential items for newborns and strengthen maternal-child bonds. The distribution was made possible by updated program criteria that allow for direct delivery to prison units and hospitals.