Policies in Defense of Women Need to Get Off the Ground
Rebecca ReichmannTavares has been president and CEO of the Brazil Foundation since 2019. She has worked at the United Nations as the interim executive coordinator of the Every Woman Every Child initiative and as UN Women's representative in Latin America and South Asia. She holds a PhD in Education from Harvard University. This article was written by her for issue 82 of the WBO weekly newsletter, dated September 1, 2023. To subscribe to the newsletter, simply enter your email in the form at the bottom of the article.
The achievements of women in the last 35 years in the country are undeniable. The 1988 Constitution ensured equality between women and men and brought labor guarantees such as 120-day maternity leave and the prohibition of wage differences based on gender. In 2006, the Maria da Penha Law created mechanisms to curb violence against women under the terms of the Constitution and international treaties. Moreover, the Femicide Law of 2015 now provides for femicide as a qualifying circumstance for the crime of homicide, making it a heinous crime.
But why, despite all these advances, are we still one of the countries that most harms and kills women? And what does this have to do with our efforts for empowerment and emancipation?
According to the latest report on gender equality by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Brazil occupies fifth place in the ranking of feminicides in the region, with 1.7 cases per 100,000 women. A recent survey by the Deloitte consultancy shows that 60 percent of Brazilian women suffered harassment and microaggressions at work in the last year, while burnout, lower pay, and low expectations of promotion were among the main reasons for women to want to leave their jobs.
We cannot forget the dramatic situation of trans women in Brazil, which is the world leader in murders of trans people and transvestites, even with the criminalization of homophobia and transphobia in 2019. There were 131 homicides last year, according to the National Association of Transvestites and Transsexuals.
The work of the Women's Police Stations and the entire support network – legal advice, medical and psychological care, temporary shelters – has been fundamental. However, it is necessary to focus not only on punishing the aggressor and on protective measures with a palliative effect, but also prioritizing female empowerment and early childhood education.
The concept of empowerment must be taught to girls from an early age in schools, showing them that it is possible to be independent and successful women, following the career they choose without needing men to legitimize them. Boys, on the other hand, must learn about gender equality as soon as possible, so that they become conscious and active adults in the fight to end the culture of machismo.
This fight is also for the right to one's own body, something difficult to achieve in a country where many women and girls do not have access to education and sexual and reproductive health, which makes them more vulnerable to abuse and violence. Let's remember the case that occurred in Santa Catarina last year, in which a ten-year-old girl was raped and became pregnant by her aggressor. Even with the trauma and risks of an early pregnancy, there was pressure not to perform the abortion, guaranteed by law in such circumstances, and even the child's personal data was leaked as a way to dissuade her from the decision.
“Brazil occupies fifth place in the ranking of feminicides in the region, with 1.7 cases per 100,000 women”
And how can the private sector contribute to advancing gender issues in Brazil, where a woman earns, on average, 78 percent of a man's salary, according to Brazilian Institution of Geography and Statistics data?
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies have promoted significant changes in companies. When dealing with governance for women, they must include training and promotion programs for female leaders and awareness campaigns for male employees, especially in leadership positions, regarding discrimination and harassment. Women who work in a place where there is respect, fair pay, and opportunities for growth are satisfied with their jobs and produce more.
The social component of the ESG agenda can also bring advances in the quest for gender equity, by encouraging organizations that promote economic and cultural empowerment and access to health, including sexual and reproductive health for women and girls with special attention to Black, Indigenous, peripheral, rural and trans women.
Gender inequality reflects the country's racial and socioeconomic disparities. The State, civil society, and the private sector need to defend the maintenance and improvement of achievements achieved so far, put affirmative policies into practice, and combat setbacks. These are essential measures for building a more humane, egalitarian, and prosperous society.
