Gender Equality in Brazil

As equal citizens, women and men must enjoy equal opportunities, choices, capabilities, power, and knowledge. Equipping girls and boys, women and men, with the knowledge, values, attitudes, and skills to tackle gender disparities is a precondition to building a sustainable future for all.

Gender Equality in Education

Gender equality is inextricably linked to its efforts to promote the right to education and support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Through the Education 2030 Framework for Action: 

  • SDG 4 aims to "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all", and 
  • SDG 5 aims to "achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls."
Gender equality in education
Girls present their school work on combating racism in Brazil.

UNESCO is committed to promoting equal rights between men and women across education systems and at all levels, from preschool to higher education, in formal and non-formal structures, and all areas of intervention, from planning infrastructure to teacher training.

Women and Girls in Science

Science and gender equality are both vital for sustainable development. Yet women and girls continue to be excluded from participating fully in science: less than 30% of researchers worldwide are women.

Tackling some of the most significant challenges of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development - from improving health to combatting climate change - will rely on harnessing all talent. That means getting more women working in these fields. In addition, diversity in research expands the pool of talented researchers, bringing in fresh perspectives, talent, and creativity.

 

Young scientists monitoring water quality

STEM Education for Girls and Women

The untapped potential of brilliant girls and women interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) represents a missed opportunity for women and society. Gender differences to the detriment of girls' participation in STEM education are already visible in early childhood education and become even more visible at subsequent levels of education.

Women and girls continue to be excluded from full participation in science and choose not to study or pursue careers in scientific fields due to various obstacles they face.

As is well known, the STEM theme is one of the bases of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and education in the areas of STEM can provide students with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours necessary for building inclusive and sustainable societies.

 

Action and Relevant Studies in Brazil

#EDUCASTEM2030 initiative
L'ORÉAL-UNESCO-ABC for Women in Science Award in Brazil
Mapping girls in STEM initiatives in Brazil
Children and adolescents and their Internet use from a gender equality perspective

Gender Equality and Culture

Gender is not universally understood the same way across cultures, and it can have multiple definitions in different communities that go beyond a male-female dichotomy. Gender equality in culture is not immune to the inequalities and discrimination that permeate other areas of society and is influenced by a broader context that includes other forms of social categorization, such as class, race, poverty level, ethnicity, religion,  age,  disability and marital status,  that can compound disadvantages.

UNESCO Brasilia promotes raising awareness mobilization to include gender equality in cutural policies in Brazil to empower and provide equal opportunities for women artistists and cultural professionals, and to protect their cultural rights.

African Descent Singers (Brazil)

Gender Equality and Media

UNESCO follows a gender-sensitive approach in media actions and pays special attention to countries undergoing conflict, post-conflict, and transition situations.

In Brazil, UNESCO contributes to strengthening professional standards on freedom of expression, combating disinformation and the safety of women journalists through capacity-building and self-regulation mechanisms.

A recent report shows that gender inequalities still continue in the profession and a weak representation of women in decision-making roles in the media industry. 

 

Women journalists

Ending Violence against Women

Gender-based Violence has increased as a global phenomenon that cuts across geographical, cultural, social, economic, ethnic and other boundaries. It has profoundly affected millions of women and girls. 

In Brazil, gender-based violence has occurred in families, work environments and schools. Young Black women are the most common victims. Thus, UNESCO Brasilia and its partners have strategically sought to stop violence and discrimination against women.

Women in Brazil

Key figures

243 million

women and girls (ages 15-49) worldwide were subjected to sexual or physical violence by an intimate partner. 

87 thousand

women were intentionally murdered worldwide. Most of these murders were committed by the victim's intimate partner or family member.

83.5%

of violent deaths of women in Brazil occurred in domestic families or intimate relationships of affection.

Global guidance on addressing school-related gender-based violence
UNESCO
UN Women
2016
0000246651

International Days for Action

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International Day of Women in Multilateralism

25 January

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International Day of Women and Girls in Science

11 February

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International Women's Day

8 March

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International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

25 November

Publications

The effects of AI on the working lives of women
UNESCO/OECD
IDB
2022
UNESCO
0000380861
Direito à educação em sexualidade e relações de gênero no cenário brasileiro
UNESCO Office Brasilia
UNESCO
2023
UNESCO
0000384680
From access to empowerment: UNESCO strategy for gender equality in and through education 2019-2025
UNESCO
2019
UNESCO
0000369000