Brazil launches Zero Femicide campaign

When launching the "Zero Femicide - No Violence Against Women" campaign, Women's Minister Cida Gonçalves highlighted that around 400,000 protective measures are issued annually in Brazil. The campaign seeks to engage the entire society in the fight against violence targeting women.

"Feminicide is a preventable crime. It is different from other crimes such as homicides, street fights, for example. Our goal is to involve the whole of society. We're working with various companies, women's groups across Brazil, and soccer clubs, because it's crucial to speak directly to men. The sports arena is especially vital for clubs to mobilize and spread messages to prevent aggression and abuse against women, which are criminal acts," said Minister Cida Gonçalves, in an interview with A Voz do Brasil, a program by Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC).

On Wednesday (Aug. 7), marking the 18th anniversary of the Maria da Penha Law, which established protective measures, the minister urged women and the public to report incidents of violence.

How to report

Women can seek advice, ask questions, and receive information over the phone. "We are ready to assist all women in the country," she added. In an emergency, the recommendation is to call 190, which will alert the police.

"We also need men. We need men to tell other men that violence against women is a crime," she emphasized.

This month marked the launch of the August Lilac campaign, aimed at combating domestic violence against women.