Four out of ten rape victims in Brazil are black girls aged 17 or younger

Sao Paulo, Brazil – Four out of 10 rape victims in Brazil are black girls aged 17 or younger, even though they make up only 13 percent of the Brazilian population. The rape rate among black girls is twice as high as among white girls of the same age group, who account for 20 percent of registered rapes in the country.

The data comes from a study by the Center for Racial Studies at Insper University and is based on data from the Ministry of Health’s National Health Care System.

The study confirms the worrying increase in violence against black girls in Brazil.

In 2010, the first year of the survey, three out of 10 rape victims were black girls and teenagers. In 2022, the last year analyzed, that number had risen to four out of 10.

The study also found that 60% of rapes recorded in Brazil involved victims under 18 years of age (39.2% were between 11 and 17 years old) and included all races – white, brown and black girls and teenagers.

However, the number of black victims has not only increased among minors in recent years. Black women make up the majority of victims in all age groups, which, according to the study, confirms their greater social vulnerability compared to white women.

According to Insper, black women made up 48.4% of rape victims in 2010, but in 2022 that proportion rose to 60%, while the proportion of white women fell from 38.1% to 33.3%.

“Black women face more intense and persistent social and economic inequalities that plague the country. These inequalities reflect a complex intersection of racism and sexism that is deeply rooted in the country’s history and manifests itself in many ways in everyday life,” the study said.

Despite recent progress in educational inclusion, researchers say black women still face greater barriers to entry and completion of college, often leading them to precarious and low-paying jobs where they face exploitation and abuse.

“These and other factors form the backdrop to the violence experienced by black women in Brazil. They are the most common victims of femicide, rape, and physical and emotional abuse. It is shocking that the profile of victims of violence against women in Brazil has remained the same over time,” the report said.

Black women are not only the main victims of rape, but also suffer the most from sexual harassment. They represented 51.28% of harassment victims in 2012, and in 2022 this figure had risen to 58.93%. The number of femicides is also higher among black women. In 2022, 68% of women murdered in Brazil were black, while 30% were white.

How can this scenario be reversed?

For the Insper researchers, the first step is to raise public awareness of violence against women, its causes and effects. “Education is an effective tool for changing attitudes, norms and behavior,” the study says, emphasizing the importance of informing women about the need to report violent situations.

In this context, campaigns can help to highlight the extent of the problem in the country and promote racial and gender equality. Education in schools is also important to teach young people respect and equality and thus prevent future outbreaks of violence.

In addition, the study says that stronger laws and a justice system that effectively holds perpetrators to account are also important. But good laws on paper alone will not solve the problem. To be effective, they must be applied fairly and consistently and supported by policies and programs that prevent violence and support victims.

“Preventing and combating violence against women is not an easy task. It requires the commitment of different sectors of society, sustained commitment, resources and the willingness (especially political) to challenge prejudices and systemic inequalities that are deeply rooted in social norms. But all these challenges must be overcome to ensure safety, equality and justice for all women,” the study concludes.