Brazilian women face rising danger from alimony disputes and anti‑female‑vote activism

In Brazil, the 2010 murder of model Eliza Samudio—ordered by ex‑partner goalkeeper Bruno Fernandes de Souza—has become a stark example of how alimony disputes can intersect with lethal domestic violence. Court data show a 63.4% rise in alimony cases from 2020 to 2025, reaching 410,298 filings, while four women are killed each day and about 60% of femicides are committed by current or former partners. Advocates say the first year after leaving an abusive relationship is the most dangerous period for women seeking support, yet national statistics do not yet track how alimony conflicts contribute to these deaths.

At the same time, right‑wing influencer Pietra Bertolazzi, a former Jovem Pan commentator, posted a video urging the abolition of women’s suffrage, echoing similar extremist rhetoric in the United States. In the clip she also opposed abortion and free sanitary products while supporting equal pay and privatization. Bertolazzi was previously fined R$ 30,000 by Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court for spreading false information during the 2022 election cycle. Her statements reflect a broader wave of gender‑based political backlash that threatens both women’s safety and civic rights in the country.