Brazil’s first lady, head of top court argue for more women in power
On Intentional Women’s Day, celebrated this Wednesday (Mar. 8), the Brazilian Senate honored seven women who made a relevant contribution to the defense of women’s rights and gender issues in the country. During a plenary session, they were given the Bertha Lutz Diploma.
One of them was Rosa Weber, chief justice of the nation’s Supreme Court. In her speech, she said discriminatory actions in the forensic sphere makes clear that not even the Judiciary branch is free from the subjugation and disqualification of women. Brazilian society today, she argued, has been witnessing an alarming surge in violence against women.
Also awarded, the Brazilian first lady, sociologist Janja da Silva, spoke about the importance of the presence of women in positions of power.
“My commitment to increasing the representation of women in politics is permanent. It’s part of my everyday life. I believe we need to further institutionalize our presence in positions of power and ensure that parity rules exist and are enforced.”
Also honored were political scientist and specialist in public security and drug policy Ilona Szabó de Carvalho, the Senate’s Director-General Ilana Trombka, and Nilza Valéria Zacarias, journalist and one of the coordinators of the Evangelical Front for the Rule of Law.
The accolade
Since its creation in 2001, the Bertha Lutz Diploma is given to people who have offered a relevant contribution to the defense of women’s rights or played a key role in tackling gender issues for a more plural and fair society.
Lutz was a biologist and a lawyer from São Paulo, as well as one of the most significant figures in 20th century Brazilian feminism and education. She became a researcher and professor at the National Museum in 1919, and was the second Brazilian woman to enter public service in the country.
She first came into contact with the feminist movement while studying in Europe. Upon her return to Brazil, she founded the Brazilian Federation for Women’s Progress (FBPF). One of the main issues Bertha Lutz raised at the time was the right to vote and to be voted for. That only materialized on May 3, 1933, in the elections for the National Constituent Assembly. Bertha Lutz died in Rio de Janeiro, in 1976.
