Secretariat of Policies for Women of the Presidency of the Republic 

Economic and Social Council of the United Nations Organization2010 Annual Ministerial Review

 Implementing the internationnally agreed goals and commitments in

regard to gender equality and the empowerment of women

2003 – Creation of the Special Secretariat of Policies for Women of the Presidency of the Republic

2004 - I National Conference of Policies for Women. A democratic process which involved the participation of more than 120,000 women in the municipal, state and national spheres.

2005 to 2007 - I National Women’s Policy Plan, composed of 199 actions distributed between five strategic axes:-Autonomy, equality in the world of work and citizenship;-Inclusive and non-sexist education;-Women’s health, sexual rights and reproductive rights;-Fighting violence against women;-Management and monitoring of the National Women’s Policy Plan.

Formulation and Implementation of Policies for Women in Brazil

2007 - II National Conference on Policies for Women – 2,700 delegates and 195,000 women in the States and municipalities. Approval of 6 new axes:

-Participation of women in the spaces of power and decision;-Sustainable development in the rural area, in the city and in the forest, as a guarantee of environmental justice, sovereignty and nutritional safety;-Right to land, a decent dwelling and social infra-structure in the rural and urban areas, considering the traditional communities;-Equalitarian, democratic and non-discriminatory culture, communication and media;-Combating racism, sexism and lesbophobia;-Combating the generational inequalities which affect women, with special attention to young and elderly women; 2008 a 2011 – II National Women’s Policy Plan388 actions distributed in 11 strategic axes; 22 federal organs involved in its execution, 22 gender organisms in the States and 277 Secretariats or Nuclei in the Municipalities  2010 – Institutionalization of the Secretariat of Policies for Women in the structure of the Presidency of the Republic, headed by a Minister of State

Three political marks of great visibility and efficaciousness:

a) The creation, in 2005, of the Women´s services hotline - Call 180;

Service of receiving, orienting and directing women in a situation of violence; also an important tool for generation of data about domestic and family violence against women;

b) The sanctioning of Law 11,340 - Maria da Penha Law;

Maria da Penha Law, of August 7, 2006, represses domestic and family violence against women;

c) The launch of the National Pact to Combat Violence against Women (2008-2011) - combats all forms of violence against women, by starting from an integral vision of the phenomenon;

23 States and 196 pole-municipalities adhered to the Pact.

The National Policy of Combating Violence against Women

46,423

204,514

271,212

401,729

INFORMATION REPORTS OF

VIOLÊNCE

SERVICES COMPLAINTS SUGGESTIONS PRAISEES TOTAL

2006 2007 2008 2009

Source: Call 180 Center.

Priority axes of the National Pact to Combat Violence against Women:

• Axis 1. Implementation of the Maria da Penha Law and strengthening of the Specialized Services of Attendance;

• Axis 2. Protection of the Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Combating the Feminization of AIDS;

• Axis 3. Combating Sexual Exploitation of Girls and Adolescents and the Traffic of Women;

• Axis 4. Promotion of the Human Rights of Women in a Prison Situation.

Two important obstacles: a) The dimensions of Brazil Extension of 8,500,000 km 2; b) Federative structure Federative System: 26 States and 1 Federal DistrictThe System of Attributions and Competencies

Three important challenges:

a) the inequality existing among the women themselves

b) the gender inequality in the world of work and the system of care

c) the political participation of the women

Constant growth, although in a very timid way;

Brazil occupies one of the last places in international ranking;

About 11% of feminine presence in the Chamber of Deputies, in the Senate and among Governors;

7,5% among 5,559 Mayors;

Cultural framework: difficulties in breaking conservative conceptions and gender stereotypes;

Table. Distribution of men and women by positions held in selected instances of power. Brazil, 2009.  

Power of state

Position/mandate WomenN° %

MenN° %

TotalN°

 Legislative Power 

SenatorFederal CongressmanState / District CongressmanAlderman 

45123

 6,556

10

8.7711.60

 12.6512.35

 

468936

 45,252

71

91.2388.40

 87.3587.65

5131,059

 51,808

81

.Executive Power 

President of the RepublicGovernorMayor 

 -3418

 -11.107.50

 1245,141

 100,088.9092.50

 1275.559

 Judiciary Power 

Minister of SFC (STF)Minister of SCJ (STJ)Minister of SLC (TST)Minister of SEC (TSE)Minister of SMC (STM)Total

2551114

22.216.723.816.77.117.5

9302161480

77.883.376.283.392.982.5

113526* 71594*

Table. Distribution of men and women by positions held in selected instances of power. Brazil, 2009.

Source: Supreme Electoral Court; Supreme Federal Court and http://www.brasil.gov.br.

Policies to stimulate the political participation of women Activity together with the Congresswomen – 45 deputies and 11 senators National Forum of Women’s Instances of Political Parties – 16 political parties: to monitor the progress of the women in the party instances; Permanent Campaign “More Women in Power” – to promote the transformation of the institutions and of the mentality; Platform More Women in Power - relates policies to be incorporated in the platforms of the female or male candidates identified with the principles of equality and respect for diversity; Review of Law 9,504/97: each party will fill a minimum of 30 % of the places with candidates of each sex.