Brazil Women March for Misogyny Bill Vote

What is the Misogyny Bill and what would it change?

Brazil's PL 896/2023, known as the "Misogyny Bill," amends Law 7.716/1989 to add crimes motivated by misogyny to the existing list of discrimination offences. If passed, it would impose prison sentences of two to five years for acts defined as "the practice, inducement or incitement of violence, restriction of the full exercise of rights, or offence to a woman's dignity on the grounds of her being a woman." Being a woman would also be included in the article covering insults based on race, colour, ethnicity and national origin.

Why are women taking to the streets right now?

The movement Levante Mulheres Vivas organised nationwide protests on Sunday, 2 August, pushing the Chamber of Deputies to schedule a floor vote on the bill. The text was already approved by the Senate and is awaiting urgent dispatch from Chamber president Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB) before it can be debated and voted on in the full house.

Which cities joined the protests?

Demonstrations took place throughout the day in: Belo Horizonte, Boa Vista, Brasília, Campo Grande, Capão da Canoa (RS), Cataguases (MG), Curitiba, João Pessoa, Juazeiro (BA), Parnaíba (PI), Pelotas (RS), Ponta Grossa (PR), Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, São José (SC), São Paulo and Sorocaba (SP).

What are organisers saying about the urgency?

Co-founder Rachel Ripani described the mobilisation as coming from civil society — women, feminist movements and men alike. She stressed that online hate speech against women has become "a dangerous thing for everyone." Organisers also addressed concerns raised by the evangelical caucus about freedom of speech, clarifying that the bill targets criminal conduct, not personal opinions or religious speech.

Ripani highlighted the danger of content on social media that allegedly promotes sexual violence against minors, calling for urgent action not only for women but for adolescents as well.