Brazil electoral bodies to fight violence against female candidates

Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court and the electoral branch of the country’s Prosecutor-General’s Office signed an agreement on Monday (Aug 1) on efforts to combat gender-based political violence in the October elections.

Attacks and physical aggression aimed at violating the political rights of women are the most common cases of this type of violence, the court stated.

Gender-based political violence is a crime outlined in the country’s Electoral Code and may be punished with one to four years in prison, plus a fine.

The conduct is characterized by acts of harassment, humiliation, and in-person or online threats targeting female candidates in a bid to stop or hinder their electoral campaign or mandate.

At the signing ceremony, court head Judge Edson Fachin pointed out women have had the right to vote for 90 years, but their participation in politics remains a challenge.

“Confronting gender-based political violence is an institutional duty and a commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and democracy itself,” he declared.

Under the terms of the document, the bodies are committed to taking into account women’s participation rights and their voice, as well as the evidence of crimes in the reports filed.

A campaign should also cast light on protocol procedures to be followed after a report is lodged.