Reports of Violence Against Older Brazilians Rise as Police Launch Nationwide Operation

Overview

• Official data show more than 1.6 million calls to Disque 100 about violence against older people from January 2024 through April 2026, with nearly 250,000 complaints recorded in the first four months of 2026 alone.
• Authorities and specialists say most reported incidents happen inside the home and name family members as the principal suspects, with physical, psychological, financial, neglect and sexual harm all documented.
• Local police units have recorded clear year-on-year rises: DEATI logged 3,251 police reports from January to May 2026 and the state of Piauí reported 6,796 complaints in January–May, including more than 1,800 estelionato (fraud) cases.
• Investigations in Santos led to arrests, the discovery of four elderly people kept in a clandestine clinic in poor conditions, and an indiciamento for qualified estelionato of a suspect known as 'Lúcia'.
• Officials warn that underreporting remains large because many victims depend on or fear family members, and they say the Junho Violeta campaign plus Operação Virtude aim to increase reporting, protection and criminal probes through the end of June.