New Reports Expose Pervasive Harassment in Brazilian Capitals and a 2025 Rise in Violence Against Women

Overview

• An online survey of 3,500 residents in ten capitals found 71% of women have experienced harassment, most often on streets and on public transport.
• Porto Alegre showed the highest prevalence among the surveyed cities, with 82% of women reporting harassment in at least one of six settings.
• A separate monitoring effort recorded 4,558 media-reported cases across nine states in 2025, a 9% increase from 2024 that averaged 12 victims per day.
• Reported sexual violence rose to 961 cases, up 56.6% year over year, with 56.5% of victims identified as girls aged 0–17 and 78.5% of aggressors reported as current or former partners.
• The Amazonas stood out with 1,023 cases in 2025, a 69.4% jump, with 78.4% of sexual-violence victims there identified as minors and persistent race data gaps limiting targeted policy design.