The Federation brings together more than 100 women at the Fenae and Apcefs Free Women's Conference.

247 - The National Federation of Associations of Caixa Econômica Federal Personnel (Fenae) and the Caixa Personnel Associations (Apcefs) elected delegates and defined the proposals that will be taken to debate at the 5th National Conference on Policies for Women, which will take place in Brasília, between September 29 and October 1. The selection took place during the Fenae and Apcefs Women's Free Conference, held on Thursday morning (14), in Fortaleza (CE), in parallel with the activities of the Northeast Regional Games, which continue in the city until Sunday (17).

With the theme "Fenae Conference With Them: equity, rights and justice for all", the event brought together more than 100 women from all over Brazil, both in person and virtually, to discuss urgent issues and contribute to the development of public policies by the federal government that respond to the real demands of the female population in the country.

The president of Fenae, Sergio Takemoto, participated in the opening of the Conference, highlighting the Federation's alignment and commitment to programs for women's empowerment and the fight against femicide, such as the creation of the Fenae with Them Campaign. Takemoto emphasized the entity's role in the fight for rights and equality, as well as the need for men's support in the struggle. “For us, it is a source of immense pride to see this Conference taking place, reaffirming Fenae's commitment to the fight against femicide and for more space for women. The Conference is an important step, but we know that the struggle continues and we are together on this journey. We cannot build the spaces we need to occupy without the support of men, without collective struggle,” Takemoto reinforced.

Rachel Weber, Director of Social Policies at Fenae, highlighted the importance of women's conferences as democratic spaces for women's issues, especially after years of interruption in the debate. “We are participating in a collective construction that goes far beyond ourselves. It is a necessary recovery to guide the federal government on what women really want, and to reaffirm that, in Brazil, it is still dangerous to be a woman. Therefore, every step in this resumption is fundamental,” she emphasized.

The director of Fenae, Lourdes Barbosa, highlighted the importance of strategic partnerships to strengthen actions for women's empowerment and the fight against violence against women. During her speech, she emphasized the role of Fenae, Apcefs, and the NGO Moradia e Cidadania, as well as initiatives such as Fenae com elas and the Fenae Transforma platform, which offers courses focused on the autonomy and citizenship of women throughout the country through the social projects developed. “We are present in all states, supporting 27 social projects that already incorporate combating domestic violence as a priority. The Fenae Transforma platform is a powerful tool to bring knowledge and opportunities to women, with courses that address entrepreneurship, rights, financial freedom, and citizenship. Each life protected and transformed is an achievement that reaffirms our commitment to dignity and equality,” Lourdes emphasized.

Giselle Menezes, Director of Social Impact at the organization, highlighted the importance of Fenae's Notice 004, which included the theme of women's empowerment in social responsibility actions developed in partnership with Apcefs and the NGO Moradia e Cidadania, with emphasis on the courses offered on the Fenae Transforma platform. “We proposed this theme of women's empowerment because we felt the need to expand knowledge on how to act in cases of violence. In partnership with LBS – Advogadas e Advogados –, we developed courses aimed at strengthening women's autonomy. Financial autonomy is a fundamental point for women to break the cycle of violence,” she explained.

Delegates and proposals

Following the debates and open voting, three delegates were elected to represent the organizations at the 5th National Conference on Policies for Women. They are: Rachel Weber, Director of Social Policies at Fenae; Rita Lima, Director of Retiree and Pensioner Affairs; and Fernanda dos Anjos, representative of Apcef/SP and the Association of Caixa Managers of São Paulo. The alternates will be: Rosalba Loureiro de Oliveira, president of Apcef/AM; Lourdes Barbosa, Fenae advisor; and Giselle Menezes, Director of Social Impact at Fenae.

The women voted on three proposals that they will take to the National Conference for discussion. These are: strengthening female leadership in communities; combating violence against women in the workplace and providing paid leave; and certification for companies that promote female leadership.  

Gym

During the Conference, lawyer Luciana Barretto gave a lecture on how discussing public policies aimed at women is also an act of defending democracy. Representing the law firm LBS Advogadas e Advogados, the professional, with over 20 years of experience defending labor rights and women's rights, warned about the impact of structural sexism, the serious underreporting of cases of violence, and highlighted the importance of the Maria da Penha Law as a landmark in the fight against gender violence. Luciana also provided practical guidance on how to file a police report, gather evidence, and seek legal, psychological, and social support.

“Violence against women is not a private problem; it is a structural problem in our society. The Maria da Penha Law breaks with patriarchal logic and guarantees protective instruments, but we still face underreporting and difficulty accessing rights. Knowing how to ask for help is fundamental to saving lives,” she emphasized.