'There will be no freedom as long as women have to live with violence,' says Fachin.

247 - The president of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), Minister Edson Fachin, stated this Wednesday (4) that violence against women and girls prevents the realization of freedom and equality in Brazilian society. The statement was made during the launch of the National Pact Brazil against Femicide, at the Planalto Palace, an unprecedented initiative that brings together the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary branches in a coordinated effort to combat lethal gender violence in the country.

Information about the event and the structure of the pact was originally released by the federal government in a statement published on the Planalto website, which details the areas of action and the governance model created to ensure the effectiveness of the measures.

In his speech, Fachin classified the signing of the agreement as an institutional milestone. “Today witnesses one of the most relevant and urgent actions ever carried out jointly by our institutions. The signing of the Pact by the Three Powers is a pact in favor of life, a pact of the State,” he stated. According to the minister, the data on femicide in the country reveal an alarming scenario that cannot be normalized. “The numbers are shocking. These are women and girls, citizens killed because of their gender. We cannot normalize this state of affairs,” he said.

The president of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) emphasized that femicide must be understood as a serious violation of human rights. “Femicide is a violation of human rights that must be eradicated. There will be no true freedom and equality as long as girls and women have to live every day with the prospect of being victims of this violence,” he declared. According to Fachin, addressing the problem requires a broad approach that goes beyond penal responses. “It is necessary to prevent, hold accountable, and protect,” he stated.

When addressing the role of institutions, the minister stressed that legislative changes, while necessary, are not sufficient on their own. “Changing the law is important, but it is not enough. It must be accompanied by a change of minds and hearts, in the State, in society, and in families. And this change begins when we start to act,” he stated, advocating for a profound cultural transformation in addressing gender-based violence.

Fachin also emphasized the Judiciary's commitment to the effectiveness of the pact. "With this pact today, we will move forward. Justice will be increasingly faster in its judgments," he said. He added that state action cannot be limited to reparation or punishment after the crime. "The State cannot only repair, it cannot only punish. The State must prevent women from dying. And it must guarantee not only that they live and survive, but that they live with dignity, autonomy, and freedom," he declared.

At the end of his speech, the president of the Supreme Federal Court stated that the Judiciary fully adheres to the initiative. "Therefore, the Brazilian Judiciary signs this pact with a sense of urgency and a feeling of hope, and fully commits to the initiative," he affirmed.

The Brazilian National Pact against Femicide establishes a permanent and coordinated action among the Three Branches of Government, focusing on the prevention of violence, the protection of victims, and the accountability of aggressors. The agreement stems from the diagnosis that violence against women and girls in Brazil is a structural crisis and demands integrated, long-term responses, with continuous monitoring, transparency, and social participation.