Tens of thousands of women, joined by men and allies, flooded the streets of Brazil’s largest cities on December 7, 2025, in a powerful outcry against femicide and gender-based violence. The demonstrations, which swept through Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana, São Paulo’s bustling avenues, and other urban centers, were sparked by a wave of recent, brutal attacks that have shaken the nation’s conscience and ignited a renewed demand for justice and systemic change.
In Rio, the iconic sands of Copacabana became a solemn tableau as protesters planted dozens of black crosses in the ground. Many wore stickers emblazoned with stark messages like “machismo kills,” a blunt indictment of the cultural forces that, demonstrators say, enable violence against women. Meanwhile, in São Paulo, the air rang with the urgent chant, “Stop killing us,” as marchers hoisted placards reading “Enough of femicide,” making their message impossible to ignore.
The protests were not just about statistics—they were deeply personal, bearing the faces and stories of real women whose lives were cut short or irreparably altered. Among the demonstrators was Alline de Souza Pedrotti, whose sister—a school administrative worker in Rio—was killed on November 28 by a male colleague. According to Pedrotti, the perpetrator “did not accept having female bosses.” Through her grief, Pedrotti spoke to The Associated Press, saying, “I’m devastated. But I’m fighting through the pain, and I won’t stop. I want changes in the legislation and new protocols to prevent this kind of crime from happening again.”
Pedrotti’s loss is tragically not isolated. On the very same day her sister was killed, another act of violence in São Paulo left the nation reeling. Taynara Souza Santos, 31, was run down by her ex-boyfriend, who then trapped her with his car and dragged her over concrete for a full kilometer. Her injuries were so catastrophic that both of her legs had to be amputated. The horrifying incident was captured on video and rapidly circulated online, fueling outrage and a sense of collective urgency.
Only a week earlier, in Florianopolis, English teacher Catarina Kasten was raped and strangled to death while walking along a trail next to a beach, on her way to a swimming lesson. The brutality of these cases, and the fact that they occurred in such quick succession, galvanized many who might otherwise have remained silent. “These recent cases were the final straw,” said Isabela Pontes, a protester on São Paulo’s Paulista Avenue. “I have suffered many forms of abuses, and today, I am here to show our voice.”
The surge in public demonstrations reflects a grim reality: gender-based violence in Brazil has reached record levels. According to a 2025 report from the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety, more than one in three women in the country experienced sexual or gender-based violence over the past year—the highest figure since systematic records began in 2017. The same organization reported that in 2024 alone, 1,492 women were victims of femicide, the highest number since Brazil formally recognized the crime a decade ago.
Brazil’s law recognizing femicide, passed in 2015, defines the crime as the killing of a woman in the domestic sphere or as a result of contempt for women. While the law was a landmark achievement, experts and activists argue that legal reforms alone have not stemmed the tide of violence. “We’re seeing an increase in numbers, but also in the intensity and cruelty of violence,” said Juliana Martins, an expert in gender-based violence and institutional relations manager at the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety. She noted that more women are speaking out and gaining visibility, but this progress has been met with backlash. “Social transformations seeking equality of rights and representation generate violent responses aimed at reaffirming women’s subordination,” Martins explained.
The demonstrations also highlighted the broader social and political context in which this violence occurs. Lizete de Paula, a 79-year-old former architect in Rio, pointed to the administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro as a period when men who hate women “felt empowered.” De Paula argued that Bolsonaro’s government dismantled public policies designed to strengthen women’s rights, creating an environment where misogyny could fester. “Women are increasingly entering new spaces and macho men can’t stand this,” she said, reflecting a sentiment shared by many at the protests.
But the movement is not just about women standing up for themselves—it’s also about calling on men to become allies in the fight. Joao Pedro Cordao, a 45-year-old father of three daughters, was among those who joined the protests in solidarity. He emphasized the importance of men confronting misogyny not only at public demonstrations but in everyday life. “Only then will we be able to put an end to—or at least reduce—the current violence against women,” Cordao stated.
The urgency of the moment is underscored by the data. The Brazilian Forum on Public Safety’s 2025 report found that cases of gender-based violence are not only rising in number but also in brutality. The report’s findings have prompted calls for a comprehensive overhaul of how authorities, communities, and society at large respond to violence against women. Activists are demanding stricter enforcement of existing laws, better protection for women at risk, and more robust education programs aimed at dismantling the cultural norms that perpetuate misogyny and violence.
While the protests were a show of collective grief and rage, they were also a display of hope and determination. Many participants expressed the belief that public demonstrations can force policymakers to act and inspire a new generation to challenge the status quo. “I want changes in the legislation and new protocols to prevent this kind of crime from happening again,” Pedrotti reiterated, her words echoing the demands of thousands.
Despite the daunting statistics and the pain etched into the faces of so many marchers, there was a palpable sense that Brazil’s women—and their allies—are not backing down. As the sun set over Copacabana and Paulista Avenue, the black crosses remained, silent witnesses to both the tragedies that have occurred and the resolve of those determined to ensure they never happen again.
Brazil’s reckoning with femicide and gender-based violence is far from over, but the outpouring of solidarity and activism on December 7 signaled a nation unwilling to accept the status quo. The voices raised in protest may yet prove the catalyst for lasting change.
