The Brazilian Senate approved this Wednesday a bill that incorporates misogyny into the Racism Act, equating it to other forms of discrimination. The initiative establishes sentences of between two and five years in prison, in addition to severe fines, for those who engage in behavior considered to be “hate” or “aversion”
to women.The vote garnered broad support, with 67 votes in affirmative and none against, reflecting a strong political consensus in the upper house. However, the measure still needs to be debated in the Chamber of Deputies, where its final approval and possible drafting changes will be defined
.
The project introduces the “status of women” as a specific criterion within anti-discrimination legislation, together with factors such as race, color, religion or origin. Until now, cases of misogyny were treated under figures such as defamation or injury, with significantly lower penalties not exceeding one year in
prison.Among the main drivers of the initiative is Senator Soraya Thronicke, who defended the need to advance tougher legislation. As he argued, the country registered nearly 7,000 attempts at femicide during 2025, which evidences — in his opinion — the seriousness of the problem. In addition, she warned of the proliferation of digital communities that promote “hate speech” against women and the need to develop censorship mechanisms
