Brazil: New legislative efforts to address violence against women
Friday, February 20, 2026 10:55 AM

A recently enacted law signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva strengthens protective measures for gender-based violence survivors. Judges can now impose stricter restrictions on alleged abusers, including removing them from shared homes, restricting gun access, and requiring electronic ankle monitors that alert victims if the perpetrator approaches. Penalties for crimes such as femicide and child rape were also increased. The reform signals growing political recognition of gender-based violence in Brazil, but advocates warn that legal changes must be paired with prevention, services, and structural reforms to reduce violence sustainably.  

 
Compiled from: Hughes, Eléonore, “Brazil Approves Law Strengthening Protective Measures for Female Victims of Gender-Based Violence,” Associated Press, Dec. 9, 2025.