Maria do Rosário and Manuela Dávila participate in a Council meeting

Gender and racial political violence was the theme of the online meeting with experts and political representatives

At the heart of the debate, a crucial question resonated: "What can civil society do in the face of institutional challenges to combat gender and racial violence?" The panelists' reflections provided significant insights into the obstacles faced by women in politics and outlined strategies for collective action.

 

Maria do Rosário, Federal Deputy and former Minister of Human Rights, emphasized the need to bring political gender violence out of invisibility. She highlighted examples, such as the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, to illustrate how violence manifests itself in misogynistic ways, targeting not only women’s ideas but also their appearance and presence in public life.

 

Former Federal Deputy Manuela d’Ávila shed light on the lack of institutional response to recent threats against eight parliamentarians, stressing the need for elected leaders to act as shields for women facing political violence. She criticized the government's silence in the face of such serious threats.

 

Adding to the discussion, Zakiya Carr Johnson, a specialist in social inclusion, highlighted the intersectionality of political violence, pointing out the heightened discrimination faced by Black, Indigenous, and Latina women. She emphasized how virtual violence impacts women’s political participation, creating a hostile environment aimed at silencing new voices.

 

Clarice Tavares, coordinator of the inequalities and identities area at InternetLab, also participated in the meeting and presented alarming data on online political gender violence, underscoring the importance of civil society working with platforms and public bodies to ensure the protection of women in politics.

 

The debate underscored the urgency of concrete actions to address political gender and racial violence. The intersectionality of these forms of violence demands a broad and collaborative approach, involving civil society, digital platforms, and government institutions. The Media and Democracy Council concluded this series of debates with a commitment to promoting actions that strengthen women’s political participation, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all.