Brazil Senate boosts penalties for attacks on teachers and health workers

The Brazilian Senate voted to strengthen punitive measures for crimes committed against educators and health‑care professionals while they are performing their duties. The amendment, authored by former federal deputy Goulart, raises punishments for offenses such as bodily injury, threat, incitement, contempt, calumny, defamation and homicide when the victim is a teacher, educator, doctor, nurse or similar staff. Penalties for simple bodily injury increase from a maximum of one year of detention to two‑to‑five years of imprisonment; aggravating injuries receive a one‑third to two‑thirds boost; crimes against honor receive a one‑third increase; illegal coercion and threats are heightened by one‑third; incitement and contempt are doubled, and punishments for illegal coercion are applied cumulatively. The bill, PL 2.672/2025, had already passed the Chamber of Deputies and now returns to it after Senate amendments for final approval.