Brazil has reported record levels of rape and gender-based violence for the second consecutive year, as concerns grow over right-wing efforts to criminalize abortion for rape victims. The annual report by the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety, released on Thursday, revealed a 6.5% increase in reported rape cases, reaching a historic high of 83,988 cases, equating to one every six minutes.
Experts find the figures particularly alarming against the backdrop of far-right activism, including a controversial bill in the lower house of Congress seeking to penalize rape survivors who seek abortions. Every indicator of gender-based violence saw an increase in 2023, with murder up by 0.8%, sexual harassment surging by 48.7%, and stalking rising by 34.5%.
In contrast, the total number of homicides (affecting both men and women) fell for the sixth consecutive year, dropping 3.4% from 47,963 in 2022 to 46,328 in 2023. Samira Bueno, the forum’s executive director, suggested that the lingering after-effects of the Covid-19 pandemic might explain the continued rise in gender-based violence.
"Since 2021, the figures for violence against women have been increasing at an accelerated rate, and they’re much higher than in the pre-pandemic period," Bueno said. "Brazil has always been a very violent country … but it seems that the pandemic changed something. The tensions that arose in the domestic environment potentially exacerbated all these forms of violence."
Data from many states indicated that at least 52% of rape victims were black. Children were dramatically overrepresented among rape survivors, with 61.6% aged 13 or younger, most of whom were assaulted by family members or acquaintances (84.7%).
Activists warn of further victimization under proposed legislation in the chamber of deputies that would penalize women who undergo abortions after 22 weeks, even in cases of rape. While abortion is illegal in Brazil, exceptions are made for rape. The new legislation, backed by supporters of former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro, would impose prison sentences of up to 20 years for a termination, equal to that for homicide and longer than that for rape (up to 15 years).
Despite outcry from feminist and human rights movements, the legislation remains dormant but could be revived. Activists warn that it would penalize victims of child sexual abuse. “These are children who don’t have the maturity to understand that they’re being victims of rape,” Bueno said, adding that many young victims do not even realize they are pregnant. “So criminalizing the victim for a supposed ‘delay’ in having an abortion is yet another form of violence against these girls.”
“Our Congress is completely disconnected from what is happening to the population, especially to girls and women,” said Bueno. “Shouldn’t we be discussing how to support these victims?”
For the first time, the report also ranked rape rates in cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. The highest rate was recorded in Sorriso, Mato Grosso state. Additionally, there were 77,000 cases of stalking reported in 2023, an increase of 34%. "This data is particularly relevant because stalking is a crime that often precedes other forms of violence – such as murder," said Bueno. Stalking was recognized as a crime in Brazil only in 2021, so the rates are expected to increase yearly as more people become aware of the law.
Despite a decrease in the total number of homicides, Brazil still accounts for 10% of the world’s murders from just 3% of the global population. "Brazil was able to reduce murders for another year, but it has also become much more unsafe for girls and women," Bueno concluded.
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