Brazil: Mobility and violence impact women's employment and safety

Recent studies in Brazil highlight significant barriers for women regarding mobility, employment, and safety. A survey titled ‘O Direito de Ir, Vir e Viver’, conducted by Indique, Think Eva, and 99, reveals that 39% of women have renounced job opportunities or professional roles due to commuting difficulties. Key obstacles include insecurity and violence (32%), financial constraints (22%), inadequate public transport (15%), and distance (14%). Additionally, 21% of women reported abandoning educational training or university studies because of these issues. The study notes that 89% of respondents reported experiencing sexual harassment during transit, with buses being the most frequent location.

Separately, DataSenado and the Observatório da Mulher contra a Violência have released findings regarding violence against women with disabilities. The research indicates that over 4.4 million Brazilian women with disabilities have suffered domestic or family violence perpetrated by men, representing 38% of this demographic—a higher rate than the 25% recorded among women without disabilities. Data shows that 83% of women with disabilities who recognized they had been victims did not seek help from official or community support networks. In the state of Paraná, approximately 25% of women reported experiencing instances of aggression in the last 12 months without spontaneously declaring it as violence.