Femicide emerges as key issue in Brazil’s 2026 election
Source: Valor International
With women making up 52% of electorate, experts say candidates need concrete proposals to tackle gender-based violence and other issues affecting women.
Women, who make up 52% of Brazil’s electorate, are expected to play a decisive role in the campaign that officially began Sunday (16), forcing candidates seeking their votes to offer less ideological and more pragmatic platforms, with detailed and concrete proposals. That is the assessment of experts who study women’s voting behavior in Brazil, both at polling institutes and universities. They identify preventing and combating femicide as a central issue.
“Femicide is a central issue. It happens across all social classes. Beyond concerns about safety on the streets and the safety of their children, women are now aware that there is also a problem inside the home—that they do not feel safe with their partners,” said Cila Schulman, president of Instituto Ideia.
A poll conducted by Ideia on July 27 and 28 with 1,018 voters found that the three issues women consider most important are policies to prevent and combat violence against women, cited by 40%; combating moral and sexual harassment in the workplace, 36%; and equal pay for men and women, 32%.
With women making up 52% of electorate, experts say candidates need concrete proposals to tackle gender-based violence and other issues affecting women.
Women, who make up 52% of Brazil’s electorate, are expected to play a decisive role in the campaign that officially began Sunday (16), forcing candidates seeking their votes to offer less ideological and more pragmatic platforms, with detailed and concrete proposals. That is the assessment of experts who study women’s voting behavior in Brazil, both at polling institutes and universities. They identify preventing and combating femicide as a central issue.
“Femicide is a central issue. It happens across all social classes. Beyond concerns about safety on the streets and the safety of their children, women are now aware that there is also a problem inside the home—that they do not feel safe with their partners,” said Cila Schulman, president of Instituto Ideia.
A poll conducted by Ideia on July 27 and 28 with 1,018 voters found that the three issues women consider most important are policies to prevent and combat violence against women, cited by 40%; combating moral and sexual harassment in the workplace, 36%; and equal pay for men and women, 32%.