Brazil's Chamber Pushes Misogyny Criminalization Bill Before Elections

Activists and officials urged the Chamber of Deputies to bring the criminalisation of misogyny (PL 896/23) to a plenary vote before the July election break. The proposal, already approved by the Senate, defines misogyny as the practice, incitement or induction of violence, rights restriction or offence against women because of their gender, with penalties of two to five years’ imprisonment and a fine.

National secretary for Violence Against Women Estela Bezerra warned Brazil is the fifth‑most lethal country for women and said the law would send a clear message that a culture tolerating violence will not be accepted. Coordinators such as Marlise Matos highlighted that hateful discourse precedes physical aggression, while deputy Luizianne Lins stressed the need for continued mobilisation to ensure any law is implemented. The Chamber has placed the bill under urgency, yet no plenary date has been set due to a lack of consensus among party leaders.