Experts who study gender-based violence point out that Brazilian legislation addressing these cases is among the most advanced in the world. The Maria da Penha Law and the Femicide Law, for example, are considered legal milestones in the fight against violence toward women.

Janaína Penalva, a professor at the University of Brasília (UnB) Law School, notes that, however, it is still too early to assess the impact of these laws on society.

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“They are importante, extremely important. We still don’t know, we haven’t seen the impact of protective legislation in society, because it is very recent. But it is not, and will never be, enough,” says the professor, who specializes in gender and law.

Penalva points out that the Maria da Penha Law has been in effect for 20 years and the Femicide Law for ten. As a result, she says, the effects of this legislation on society will take time to be felt.

Researcher Valeska Zanello believes that the real transformation of society brought about by these laws will take another 30 to 50 years.

Cross-cultural studies show that it takes at least three generations for emotional patterns to change. This is therefore a major challenge for our generation and for those to come.

The legal framework for protecting women has advanced with the enactment of new regulations. Signed into law this month, the new law establishes electronic monitoring of the abuser as an emergency protective measure when there is a current or imminent risk to the life or physical, or psychological, well-being of a woman in a situation of domestic and family violence. In addition, the victim may use a safety device that alerts her to the abuser’s approach.

Another law passed this year criminalizes vicarious homicide, defined as the murder of children and other relatives as a means of punishing or causing suffering to women. The legislation provides for a sentence of 20 to 40 years in a closed prison regime for cases of vicarious violence.

The sentence may be increased by one-third to one-half if the crime is committed in the presence of the woman whom the perpetrator intends to punish, cause suffering to, or control; against a child, adolescent, elderly person, or person with a disability; or in violation of an emergency protective order.

Meanwhile, laws such as the Brazilian Internet Framework, the Carolina Dieckmann Law, and the law criminalizing stalking (persistent physical or virtual harassment) help combat digital violence.

Women’s movement

According to psychologist Flávio Urra, who works on the rehabilitation of perpetrators of violence, it was the women’s movement that pushed for stricter legislation.

“So, changes in theory and behavior. It was the women’s movement, along with a few men who joined and fought alongside women in this struggle.”

In recent years, reports of violence have also increased. In 2025, from January to October, the 180 hotline received over 155,000 reports of violence against women, most of them filed by the victims themselves.

Flávio Urra believes that women today are less tolerant of sexist attitudes. “Many men are reported because of this. And since this change has not reached them, they do not believe that what they did is a crime.”

Business consultant Felipe Requião works to engage men in promoting gender equity and preventing violence against women. In his view, despite the recognized legal framework, acts of violence are still culturally minimized, as is men’s accountability.

“There are still many discourses that legitimize violence in many Fields - in politics, in education, within organizations, and especially in the social sphere.”

According to Requião, there is a lack of effective preventive measures that can break the cycle of violence.

“So, if there is a cycle, it is because it is continuous. And if we focused on prevention, that cycle would be broken at the first reports of violent acts. We only take action after the violence has already occurred. It is no wonder that women’s advocacy organizations widely publicize the cycle of violence,” says Requião.

For him, this is not a problem of a lack of laws, but rather a situation that requires cultural transformation.

Male engagement

Journalist and researcher on masculinities Ismael dos Anjos believes that men need to get involved and fight for change. According to him, there are limits - including legal ones - that hinder men’s role in caring for children, for example.

As a representative for CoPai - a coalition of individuals, companies, and collectives that advocate for the regulation of extended, paid, and mandatory paternity leave - the journalist cites the gradual increase in paternity leave from five days to 20 days by the end of this decade. The extension is provided for in a law enacted at the end of March this year. Although he considers the increase a victory, Ismael dos Anjos says that 20 days are still not enough for a father to care for a newborn child.

He believes that cultural, economic, and institutional structures will only change when men do their part in the micro-policies of behavioral change. “Baby changing tables will only appear in men’s restrooms when enough men ask, ‘Where can I change my child’s diaper?’”

For psychologist Alexandre Coimbra Amaral, beyond a justice system that holds people accountable, prosecutes, tries, and sentences offenders, there is also a need for more transformative public policies.

“Public policy means investing public funds in health promotion and prevention, in the development of educational practices, in the messages that are conveyed, and in training health and education professionals who are in contact with these boys on how to have constructive conversations on this issue,” Amaral reiterates.

In 2025, 19 laws on social protection for women were enacted. In addition, several other bills on the subject are currently pending in Congress. One of them equates misogyny with crimes of discrimination, such as racism, making acts of hate against women non-bailable and not subject to the statute of limitations.

*Luciene Cruz contributed to this report

The Pastoral Land Commission (CPT), affiliated with the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), released this week the 40th edition of the report Conflicts in Rural Brazil. Incidents fell 28 percent, from 2,207 in 2024 to 1,593 in 2025. However, murders of workers and indigenous peoples of the land, waters, and forests doubled, rising from 13 to 26 victims last year.

Most of the murders took place in the Legal Amazon, an area of about 5 million km² that spans nine states and includes parts of three of Brazil’s seven biomes - the Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal. There were 16 cases, distributed across the states of Pará (7), Rondônia (7), and Amazonas (2).

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“These figures reveal the advance of a historic project of colonial and capitalist expansion in the Amazon, which continues to target and transform entire peoples and territories into objects of expropriation and extermination,” said Larissa Rodrigues, a member of the Articulation of the CPTs of the Amazon.

She also attributes this situation to the strengthening of a “consortium between land grabbing, organized crime, sectors of the state, and the private sector, which work together to target public lands and protected areas.”

The report shows that farmers are the main perpetrators involved in the murders. Of the 26 cases, they were responsible for 20, either as instigators or as perpetrators.

Other forms of violence that also increased from 2024 to 2025 included arrests (from 71 to 111), humiliation cases (from five to 142), and false imprisonment cases (from one to 105).

“The rise in cases of humiliation and false imprisonment, for example, is due to the arbitrary actions of the Military Police of the state of Rondônia, which in November 2025, as part of Operation Godos, interrupted a public meeting involving about 100 landless families evicted from their camps, as well as officials from the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming,” said Gustavo Arruda, a researcher at the Dom Tomás Balduino Documentation Center (Cedoc/CPT).

According to the researcher, the increase in arrests is also due to specific actions by state security forces against communities. As an example, he cited the Military Police of the state of Rondônia, which carried out several operations targeting members of the League of Poor Peasants (LCP).

Violence

When all types of conflicts are considered, land-related violence accounts for the largest share (75% or 1,186 cases), followed by labor conflicts (10% or 159), water conflicts (9% or 148), and encampments, occupations, and repossessions (6% or 100).

The main cases of land-related violence were pesticide contamination (127 cases), land invasions (193), and contract killings (113). The main victims were indigenous peoples (258 incidents), followed by squatters (248), quilombolas (244), and landless people (153).

Farmers represent the group responsible for the most violence in land-related cases (515 cases), followed by business owners (180), the federal government (114), and state governments (85).

The main cases of water-related conflict involved rural communities’ resistance to destruction or pollution (1,034), non-compliance with legal procedures (754), reduced access to water (425), and pesticide contamination (129).

Indigenous peoples were the main victims in water conflicts (42 incidents), followed by quilombolas (24), small farmers (20), and riverine communities (17).

The main perpetrators of violence in the water sector were mining companies (34), business owners (29), small-scale miners (26), farmers (23), and hydroelectric power plants (9).

Slave-like labor

The CPT report indicates a 5 percent increase in cases of slave-like labor or conditions analogous to slavery (159 in 2025) and a 23 percent increase in the total number of workers rescued from these conditions (1,991).

The researchers highlight the construction of a power plant in the municipality of Porto Alegre do Norte, in the state of Mato Grosso, where 586 people were rescued. They had been recruited in the North and Northeast regions of the country and were forced to sleep in cramped, overcrowded rooms, received inadequate food, and suffered frequent water and power outages.

The economic sectors with the highest number of rescued workers are power plant construction (586), crop farming (479), sugarcane (253), mining (170), and livestock farming (154). According to CPT, these are sectors that historically show the highest incidence of slave-like labor, with farming and livestock raising as recurring cases.

Socio-environmental platform

On Monday (Apr. 27), the Pastoral Land Commission, in partnership with the Institute for Society, Population, and Nature (ISPN), launched the Socio-Environmental Observatory, a civil society initiative that compiles systematized data from 1980 to 2023 on human rights violations, deforestation, and the expansion of industrial agriculture in Brazil.

According to the organizers, data from different sources will be compiled, cross-referenced, and made available in an interactive digital environment, allowing users to visualize, in a segmented way by state and municipality, the direct relationship between the expansion of commodity production and socio-environmental conflicts in the country.

The end of the six-day workweek followed by one day off (6x1) is the main cause championed by labor unions at decentralized demonstrations held across Brazil on Friday, May 1, Labor Day. The measure is seen as essential to ensuring quality of life and a better work–life balance.

Currently, several proposals on this topic are pending in Congress. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has sent a bill to the Legislature with constitutional urgency to end the 6x1 schedule and reduce the workweek from 44 to 40 hours.

Rallies

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In São Paulo, the Central Única dos Trabalhadores (CUT) has scheduled political, cultural, and community service activities under the slogan “Our struggle transforms lives.”

The goal is to expand dialogue with the public and strengthen the organization of the working class in local communities. At regional headquarters, rallies will be organized in partnership with local unions. The initiative seeks to bring programs that combine civic engagement, culture, and social mobilization to neighborhoods and municipalities.

Among the issues deemed urgent by CUT for this May Day are the reduction of the workweek without a pay cut, the fight against femicide, the strengthening of collective bargaining as a fundamental tool to ensure concrete improvements in working conditions, and the guarantee of rights for public servants, among others.

For the Brazilian Workers’ Central (CTB), “this year’s May 1st goes beyond a symbolic celebration and serves as a platform for social pressure to bring about concrete changes. Among the issues that should be highlighted are the fight against job insecurity, the need for public policies that strengthen the economy, and the defense of basic rights that guarantee dignity for the working population.”

The General Workers’ Union (UGT) will launch the 12th edition of Expo Paulista, in celebration of Labor Day, on Paulista Avenue. The exhibition will feature 30 panels on the theme “This Is an Achievement: Struggles and Victories of the Brazilian Worker,” created by Brazilian fashion designer Ronaldo Fraga.

Considered the largest open-air exhibition in Latin America, the panels will be on display until May 31, with an expected daily attendance of 1.5 million people.

The exhibition offers a visual reflection on the world of work, its transformations, and the challenges that shape the history of the Brazilian worker.

With activities also scheduled in various cities across the state of São Paulo, the Central of Brazilian Trade Unions (CSB) says they raise greater awareness of the movement’s demands and allow for direct contact with workers, thereby expanding grassroots mobilization.

The trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union takes effect on May 1, with a direct impact on Brazilian exports. According to estimates by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), more than 80 percent of the products sold by Brazil to the European bloc will have zero import tariffs in this initial phase.”

With no European Union tariffs, Brazilian companies will be able to sell most of their products to Europe without paying import duties, reducing costs and increasing their competitiveness against competitors from other countries.

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The agreement creates one of the largest free trade areas in the world, connecting a market of over 700 million consumers. According to CNI, more than 5,000 Brazilian products will have zero tariffs immediately, including industrial and agricultural goods.

Of the 2,932 products that will have zero tariffs from the outset:

• About 93% (2,714) are industrial goods
• The remainder includes items from the food sector and raw materials

Among the sectors expected to feel the greatest positive impact are:

• Machinery and equipment (21.8% of the 2,932 products with immediate tariff elimination);
• Food (12.5%);
• Metallurgy (9.1%);
• Electrical machinery, equipment, and materials (8.9%);
• Chemical products (8.1%).

In the case of the machinery and equipment sector, for example, nearly 96 percent of Brazilian exports to Europe will now enter duty-free. This includes products such as compressors, industrial pumps, and mechanical parts.

Strategic agreement

The agreement is considered strategic because it significantly expands Brazil’s commercial reach. Currently, countries with which Brazil has trade agreements account for about 9 percent of global imports. With the European Union’s entry, that figure could rise to more than 37 percent.

In addition, the treaty provides greater predictability for companies, with clear rules on trade, government procurement, and technical standards.

Despite the immediate impact, not all products will have tariffs eliminated at once. For more sensitive items, the reduction will be phased in gradually:

• Within 10 years in the European Union;
• Within 15 years in Mercosur;
• In some specific cases, such as new technologies, the timeline may extend to 30 years.

Next steps

The agreement’s entry into force marks only the beginning of its implementation. The Brazilian government must still regulate details such as the distribution of export quotas among Mercosur countries.

In addition, business associations from both blocs are expected to create a committee to monitor the agreement’s implementation and help companies seize new opportunities.

Brazil’s Supreme Court has recorded a total of 1,402 convictions for the coup-related acts of January 8, 2023. The sentences are distributed as follows:

• 431 prison sentences;
• 419 alternative sentences;
• 552 plea agreements.

The report on the status of the cases was released on Wednesday (Apr. 29) by the office of Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the case rapporteur.

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According to the report, the largest group of those convicted received one-year prison sentences. This amounts to 404 individuals, or 28.82 percent of the total convictions. Next, 213 individuals received 14-year prison sentences, representing 15.19 percent of the total.

The longest sentence - 27 years and three months - was handed down to former President Jair Bolsonaro, the only person to receive that term.

On Friday (24), Alexandre de Moraes finalized the enforcement of sentences for those convicted in the coup plot.

The arrests were completed after the judge ordered the enforcement of sentences for the five defendants in Nucleus 2, the last group still pending. Arrests had already been ordered for defendants in Nuclei 1, 3, and 4.

January 8

The anti-democratic attacks of January 8, 2023, marked one of the most serious episodes of violence against Brazilian institutions, as groups of protesters stormed and vandalized the headquarters of the Planalto presidential palace, Congress, and the Supreme Court.

Motivated by their refusal to accept the results of the 2022 presidential election, the attackers vandalized national historical and artistic heritage in an attempt to instigate a coup d’état and disrupt the democratic order.”

Since the incident, the Judiciary has been working to hold those involved accountable, from direct perpetrators to the financiers and masterminds behind the coup attempt. The investigation was conducted under the supervision of Justice Alexandre de Moraes at the Supreme Court.

Despite tensions surrounding the war in the Middle East, Brazil’s Central Bank cut interest rates for the second time in a row. The Monetary Policy Committee (Copom) unanimously reduced the Selic rate, the economy’s benchmark interest rate, by 0.25 percentage points to 14.5 percent per year.

From June 2025 to March of this year, the rate stood at 15 percent per year, the highest level in nearly 20 years. At its last meeting, Copom cut interest rates again amid falling inflation. However, the war in the Middle East, which has led to higher fuel and food prices, complicates the committee’s work.

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In a statement, the committee gave no indication of the future path of interest rates. It noted that it is monitoring the war in the Middle East and the effects of a possible prolongation on inflation.

Inflation

The Selic rate is the Central Bank’s primary tool for keeping inflation under control, as measured by the Broad National Consumer Price Index (IPCA).

The inflation target set by the National Monetary Council for the Central Bank to pursue is 3 percent, with a tolerance band of 1.5 percentage points above or below.

In the latest Monetary Policy Report, released at the end of March, the Central Bank raised its forecast for the IPCA in 2026 from 3.5 percent to 3.6 percent.

The benchmark interest rate is used in government bond trading within the Special Settlement and Custody System (Selic) and serves as a reference for other interest rates in the economy. By raising it, the Central Bank curbs excess demand that puts upward pressure on prices, as higher interest rates make credit more expensive and encourage saving.

Brazil lost 1.6 million hectares of tree cover in tropical rainforests in 2025, according to a Global Forest Watch report released on Wednesday (Apr. 29) by the nonprofit environmental organization World Resources Institute (WRI).

The figure represents a 42 percent reduction in losses compared to 2024, with a greater decline in clear-cutting not involving fire. Losses unrelated to fires result from deforestation, clear-cutting, and natural die-off, among other factors.

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“Brazil reduced non-fire-related losses by 41 percent compared to 2024, reaching the lowest level since records began [in 2001],” said Elizabeth Goldman, co-director of Global Forest Watch.

The states that saw the greatest reductions in losses were Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Acre, and Roraima, which together account for more than 40 percent of the decline. Maranhão was the only state where tree cover loss increased.

The data, produced annually by the Global Land Analysis and Discovery Laboratory (GLAD) at the University of Maryland, refer to primary vegetation - that is, mature natural areas with original vegetation.

Researchers at the World Resources Institute highlighted that the model used does not measure only deforestation, unlike Brazil’s official monitoring system, the Project for Monitoring Deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon by Satellite (Prodes). The Global Forest Watch system also does not account for other disturbances, such as selective logging and natural die-off.

Alignment

According to Elizabeth Goldman, despite the different methods, the reduction indicated in the study aligns with the decline in deforestation across the main biomes, as reported by Prodes for the period from August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025.

“Beyond primary tropical forests, when considering total tree loss, most biomes saw a reduction, including the Caatinga, a region of dry forests in northeastern Brazil,” the researcher noted.

WRI Brasil Executive Director Mirela Sandrini said the results achieved by Brazil were made possible by a task force led by the government, with the participation of civil society, academia, local communities, and the private sector.

Initiatives such as intensifying production in already deforested areas, creating the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF), measures to compensate for environmental services, and tax incentives for those who preserve forests are in line with global expectations for the coming decade, Sandrini said.

“Given that Brazil is at the center of large-scale solutions for food, energy, and climate security, this is very important,” she pointed out.

Global data

Researchers say the results in Brazil had a positive impact on global data, which show a loss of 4.3 million hectares of tree cover in tropical rainforests worldwide in 2025.

This figure represents a 35 percent decrease compared to 2024, when vegetation loss reached a record high of 6.7 million hectares.

Non-fire-related losses of tree cover were the lowest in the past ten years, with a 23 percent decrease compared to 2024. By contrast, fire-related loss remains among the highest on record, ranking third since 2001.

Elizabeth Goldman stressed the figures for the 2025 fires are still subject to revision, as they may include late reports from 2024. “Smoke from active fires can block satellite sensors and delay the detection of these events,” she explained.

Losses

The loss of tree cover in Brazil accounted for more than 37 percent of the global total in the year; in terms of area, it was the country with the largest losses, followed by Bolivia (620,000 hectares) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (nearly 600,000 hectares). When the analysis is based on forest size, Bolivia and Madagascar recorded the greatest losses.

“Agricultural expansion was the main cause of tree cover loss in the tropics, driven by commodity production and a shift from subsistence farming to local market-oriented crops,” said the WRI co-director.

Fires

Globally, fires were the primary cause of tree cover loss in 2025. Over the past three years, fires have caused twice as much forest loss as they did two decades ago.

Goldman views the decline in tropical forest loss in 2025 as positive. However, she believes the result is insufficient to meet the commitment made by 140 countries to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030. According to her, current data still places the world 70 percent above the required level.

“Reaching this goal in the coming years will not be easy because forests are increasingly vulnerable to climate change, while humanity continues to grow and demand more fuel and food,” Goldman said.

The Official National List of Endangered Fauna Species for Fish and Aquatic Invertebrates was updated on Tuesday (Apr. 28). The review, which began in 2024, added 100 species and removed the same number, keeping the total at 490.

Fish, stingrays, sharks, starfish, and hundreds of other species on the Brazilian mainland and in its waters were assessed for extinction risk and, based on their current status, classified as Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN), or Critically Endangered (CR).

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According to João Paulo Capobianco, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, the update is the result of a robust technical analysis to determine the status of Brazilian wildlife, carried out through a joint effort by governments, academia, civil society, and the private sector.

“The goal of this initiative is to mobilize actions so that species currently under pressure from various factors can see their populations recover,” Capobianco said.

The new list replaces the 2014 version and was revised based on criteria from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), used to assess population size, geographic distribution, habitat conservation status, and pressures such as hunting and pollution.

In addition to the list, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change has published rules and restrictions to protect classified species and support the recovery of their populations. These include prohibitions on capture, transport, sale, and storage, as well as guidelines for developing recovery plans.

Snapper

According to the ministry, some recovery plans for reclassified species are already being revised, such as the snapper (Lutjanus purpureus), which has been reclassified from VU to EN.

Under the new classification, protection and management measures for the species will be intensified to reduce pressures from overfishing and the capture of juveniles.

According to Capobianco, this is a joint effort with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture aimed at rebuilding populations and ensuring the continuity of economic activity.

“When we talk about sustainability in fishing, we’re talking about ensuring balance: protecting species, respecting science, and ensuring that the fishing industry continues to provide food, income, and development in Brazil. The snapper is of great economic importance, but there will only be a future for this industry if we act responsibly in the present,” said Edipo Araujo, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

The harm to health and the environment caused by mercury used in illegal gold mining in the Amazon was reported to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) with the presentation of a study by Brazil’s Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF). The autonomous international body is affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS).

The document, presented last week, complements the report the Prosecutor’s Office submitted in March to the Special Rapporteur on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights (REDESCA), which is linked to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Ecosystem contamination

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The liquid substance is frequently used in illegal gold mining operations because it readily binds with gold particles, forming what is known as “amalgam.”

After this metallic alloy forms, it is heated with a blowtorch. As the temperature rises, the mercury evaporates, leaving only the gold behind.

The vaporized mercury spreads through the air and settles on soil and water, contaminating rivers, waterways, and fish - the staple food of indigenous and riverine communities - and can cause neurological problems.

In addition to mercury contamination, illegal mining causes ecosystem degradation through deforestation, intensive soil removal, and alterations to riverbeds.

The problem of illegal mining in the Amazon in Brazil and other countries is well known to the IACHR’s special rapporteur. Just over a month ago, REDESCA called for the guarantee of the “human right to water in the Americas,” particularly in the so-called “Guiana Shield,” comprising areas of Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, Venezuela, and Brazil.

Defense

In a statement to Agência Brasil, the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) said it “has been directly involved in restricting the use of mercury in illegal mining operations.”

The institute noted that it established stricter criteria for access to legally imported mercury through a regulation created in 2024, in addition to “conducting ongoing environmental enforcement actions to curb the use of smuggled mercury in gold mining operations.”

The regulation requires “the licensing of individuals and legal entities that handle metallic mercury, as well as that they carry the Metallic Mercury Operations Document, which ensures that the import, sale, resale, and transfer of mercury occur only between previously licensed parties.”

The regulation, however, does not have the force of law, unlike the 1989 presidential decrees, which “remain in effect and prohibit, respectively, the use of mercury in gold mining, except in activities licensed by the environmental agency,” as noted by the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources.

Brazil’s Supreme Court granted humanitarian house arrest to those over 70 who were convicted of participating in the January 8, 2023 coup attempt.

The decision was signed on Friday (Apr. 24) by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the rapporteur for cases related to the attempted coup d’état.

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Moraes applied the Criminal Enforcement Law, which allows for the granting of house arrest to individuals over 70. The decision also benefits 18 other elderly inmates with serious illnesses.

One of the beneficiaries was 70-year-old retiree Maria de Fátima Mendonça Jacinto, known as Fátima from Tubarão, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison and has already served three years, ten months, and 24 days.

According to the case that led to her conviction, Jacinto broke into the Supreme Court’s headquarters, smashing windows, chairs, tables, and works of art, and posted the acts on social media. Based on the videos, she was identified and arrested by the Federal Police of Brazil two weeks after the coup-related acts.

Fátima Jacinto and the other elderly individuals must comply with precautionary measures, including wearing an electronic ankle monitor, surrendering their passports, refraining from leaving the country, using social media, or maintaining contact with others under investigation.

Those granted these measures may receive visitors only with prior authorization from the justice.

In the event of non-compliance, Moraes may order the return of the convicted individuals to a closed prison regime.

Despite being granted house arrest, the convicted individuals remain jointly liable for the payment of BRL 30 million in damages resulting from the vandalism of the Supreme Court building, the Congress, and the Planalto presidential palace.

According to the latest data released in January by the Supreme Court, the Court’s First Panel has convicted 1,399 individuals accused of participating in acts that sought to undermine Brazilian democracy and the functioning of its institutions. According to the report, 179 people are currently in prison, 114 of them in a closed regime following the finalization of their convictions.

Following the coup attempts, the Office of the Attorney General filed 1,734 criminal cases with the Supreme Court. The charges were divided among instigators, perpetrators, and four main nuclei that supported former President Jair Bolsonaro’s attempt to remain in power after losing the election, thereby subverting the democratic order, according to the Supreme Court.

The report shows that the majority - 979 people (68.9%) - were charged with less serious offenses and received sentences of up to one year in prison (415) or benefited from non-prosecution agreements.

Embraer announced on Monday (Apr. 27) its consolidated order backlog for the quarter, indicating a 22 percent increase compared to the first quarter of 2025. The result was driven by growth in commercial aviation orders, which rose 50 percent to an order backlog of USD 15 billion.

Embraer’s total order backlog reached USD 32.1 billion in the first quarter of 2026, marking the company’s sixth record-high level.

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The company delivered 44 aircraft during the period across all business units. This represents a 47 percent increase compared to the 30 deliveries in the first quarter of 2025 and accounts for 16 percent of the deliveries projected for 2026. The company expects to deliver between 240 and 255 aircraft in 2026 across business and commercial aviation.

The highlight was commercial aviation sales to Europe, with Finnish airline Finnair placing an order for up to 46 E195-E2 aircraft, including 18 official purchase orders, as well as options and purchase rights.

The company also announced that the Embraer Phenom 300 family has been recognized as the world’s best-selling light jet for the 14th consecutive year.

The Services & Support segment reached a record high, with revenues of approximately USD 5.1 billion, up 11 percent from the previous year.

Monetary and Credit Statistics released on Monday (Apr. 27) by Brazil’s Central Bank indicate that households remain under pressure from high borrowing costs and are turning to short-term options such as credit cards.

In March, the average interest rate on unsecured credit to individuals remained high at 61.5 percent per year, despite a monthly decline of 0.4 percentage points (p.p.).

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With Brazilians paying such high interest rates, delinquency on total credit in the National Financial System (SFN) stood at 4.3 percent of the portfolio in March, down 0.1 percentage points (p.p.) in the month but up 1.0 percentage point over 12 months.

Among households, the rate reached 5.3 percent, up 1.4 percentage points over one year.

According to the bank, Brazilian household debt reached 49.9 percent of the SFN’s total credit in February (up 0.1 percentage points in the month and 1.3 percentage points over 12 months), while the share of income committed to debt reached 29.7 percent (up 0.2 percentage points in the month and 1.9 percentage points year over year).

Household credit continues to expand

The outstanding balance of credit operations in the National Financial System (SFN) totaled BRL 7.2 trillion in March, up 0.9 percent in the month.

Credit to households reached BRL 4.5 trillion, up 0.8 percent in the month and 10.9 percent over the past 12 months.

For unsecured credit to individuals, the balance reached BRL 2.5 trillion, up 1.1 percent in the month and 12.3 percent compared to March 2025. The Central Bank highlighted the increase in cash credit card transactions, payroll loans for private-sector workers, and auto loans.

Credit directed at households - which includes lines with terms and conditions defined by specific rules - totaled BRL 2.0 trillion, up 0.5 percent in the month and 9.3 percent over 12 months.

Expanded credit reaches BRL 21 trillion

Total credit extended to the non-financial sector reached BRL 21.0 trillion in March, equivalent to 162.3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP—the sum of all final goods and services produced in a country, state, or city, generally over a year), down 0.3 percent in the month. Over 12 months, it increased by 11.2 percent.

Of the total, credit to companies reached BRL 7.1 trillion, up 1.5 percent in the month, driven mainly by private debt securities, external loans, and SFN operations.

Brazil’s Ministry of Women has condemned statements made by US government special adviser Paolo Zampolli about Brazilian women. According to the ministry, the remarks reinforce hate speech and devalue Brazilian women, affronting their dignity and respect.

Recently, in an interview with the Italian broadcaster RAI, Zampolli said that Brazilian women “cause trouble for everyone” and referred to them as a “cursed race.” “They are programmed to do this,” said the US special representative for global partnerships.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Hate, big tech, and the far right: How the gears of misogyny turn.
• Brazil launches national campaign against misogyny.

“Misogyny is not an opinion. It is an expression of hatred, aversion, and incitement to violence, constituting a criminal act. In this regard, the ministry emphasizes that hatred against girls and women cannot be relativized under the guise of freedom of expression,” said a statement released by Minister Márcia Lopes.

The note also states that the Brazilian government reaffirms its commitment to promoting women’s rights and combating all forms of gender- and race-based violence, including misogyny.

Brazil’s First Lady Janja Lula da Silva also posted a statement on social media condemning Zampolli’s remarks. According to her, Zampolli has been accused by his ex-wife, Brazilian model Amanda Ungaro, of domestic violence and sexual and psychological abuse.

“Brazilian women, with great strength and courage, break the cycles of violence and silence every day. Saying that we are a ‘cursed race’ and ‘programmed to cause trouble’ does not diminish us. We know very well who we are, and we are very proud of who we become every day,” said the first lady.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Friday (Apr. 24) ordered the final enforcement of the sentences of those convicted in the coup plot occurred during the administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

The arrests were carried out after the justice ordered the enforcement of the sentences for the five defendants in Nucleus 2, the last group pending. The defendants in Nuclei 1, 3, and 4 had already had their arrests ordered.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Brazil’s court sentences members of coup’s disinformation nucleus.
• Brazilian ex-congressman Ramagem released after 2 days in US custody.
• Supreme Court justice grants house arrest to Bolsonaro.

The decision was handed down after Moraes recognized the finality of the convictions, meaning that no further appeals could be filed.

With this decision, the convicted individuals will begin serving their sentences. They are:

• Mário Fernandes, retired Army general: 26 years and six months in prison;
• Silvinei Vasques, former director of the Federal Highway Police: 24 years and six months in prison;
• Marcelo Câmara, Army colonel and former advisor to Bolsonaro: 21 years in prison;
• Filipe Martins, former advisor on international affairs to former President Jair Bolsonaro: 21 years in prison;
• Marília de Alencar, former director of intelligence at the Ministry of Justice: 8 years and six months in prison; she had been awaiting trial while free.

With the sentences being carried out, a warrant was issued for Alencar’s arrest, but she will serve 90 days under house arrest while recovering from surgery. She is required to wear an electronic ankle monitor.

The sentences were handed down in December last year, when the Court’s First Panel convicted the defendants.

Charges

Filipe Martins was accused by the Attorney General’s Office of being one of those responsible for drafting the coup plan produced toward the end of the Bolsonaro administration.

Mário Fernandes was accused of devising a plan to kill President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Moraes. The plan was outlined in a Word document titled “Green and Yellow Dagger.”

According to the Attorney General’s Office, Marcelo Câmara also illegally monitored the daily routine of Justice Alexandre de Moraes.

According to messages seized from the cell phone of Mauro Cid, a whistleblower and former aide to Bolsonaro, Câmara informed him that Moraes would be in São Paulo and referred to the justice as “professor.” The messages date from December 2022.

Silvinei Vasques, former director of the Federal Highway Police, acted to block the movement of voters supporting President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during the second round of the 2022 elections.

Marília de Alencar was responsible for collecting data that formed the basis for the roadblocks.

Defenses

In December last year, the defendants’ defense teams denied the charges and argued for acquittal.

Overview

The Supreme Court has already convicted 29 defendants for their participation in the coup plot. Currently, 20 are serving sentences in closed detention.

Former President Jair Bolsonaro, former Minister of Institutional Security Augusto Heleno, and former Director of Intelligence at the Ministry of Justice Marília de Alencar are under house arrest.

Army officers Márcio Nunes de Resende Júnior and Ronald Ferreira de Araújo Júnior signed plea agreements with the Attorney General’s Office and were not arrested. They received sentences of three years and five months and one year and 11 months, respectively.

Mauro Cid, Bolsonaro’s former aide, signed a plea agreement and is already free.

Three arrest warrants have not yet been executed. Former congressman Alexandre Ramagem, Voto Legal Institute president Carlos Cesar Moretzsohn Rocha, and Army colonel Reginaldo Vieira de Abreu are fugitives living abroad.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Sunday (Apr. 26) that he “vehemently condemns” the attack on US President Donald Trump, which occurred on Saturday (25) during a meeting with journalists in Washington.

“My solidarity goes out to President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and everyone present at the correspondents’ dinner in Washington. Brazil vehemently condemns the attack,” reads a statement posted by Lula on social media.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Lula criticizes Trump’s threats to the world and defends Pope Leo XIV.

“Political violence is an affront to democratic values we must all protect,” added the Brazilian president.

Shots were fired during the White House correspondents’ dinner attended by Trump.

Gunfire was heard nearby, and President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were quickly escorted away by the US Secret Service.

The dinner was attended by, among others, Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who were also evacuated from the hotel.

President Trump held a press conference at the White House after the attack and said the shooter was a “lone wolf,” a term used to describe criminals who act alone.

Despite Trump’s remarks, the US Secret Service has provided no further details about the suspect.

The study Global Assessment of the Extinction Risk of Soil-Dependent Species: Recent Advances and Recommendations finds that existing research is still insufficient to assess the conservation status of this biodiversity. The warning was issued on Soil and Water Conservation Day, observed on April 15.

The survey, published in international scientific journals, highlights that soil is essential for human survival, as 95 percent of food production depends on the health of this ecosystem, which can also store 27 percent of the carbon needed to keep global warming below 2°C.

Notícias relacionadas:

• River renaturalization emerges as strategy to combat urban flooding.
• Brazil unveils national plan for bioeconomy.
• Freshwater migratory fish rank among world’s most threatened species.

Under the leadership of the nonprofit organization Conservation International (CI), only species listed as threatened with extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) were assessed. Based on these data, 8,653 species were classified, of which 20 percent - at least 1,758 - remain at risk of extinction, the researchers note.

Another 1,722 species could not be assessed due to insufficient data to determine their global status.

“This is the first time we have attempted to assess the extinction risk of soil-dependent species, and data are really only available for vertebrates. Currently, there is very little information on the conservation status of invertebrates and fungi, which make up the vast majority of soil-dependent species,” explains Neil Cox, manager of the Biodiversity Assessment Unit, who led the study.

According to the researchers, the world’s most comprehensive list of global extinction risk - the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - underrepresents soil biodiversity. This lack of information could negatively impact life on the planet, as other studies indicate that soil diversity is essential for ecosystem functioning.

Invertebrates and fungi

One example is the limited knowledge of soil-dependent invertebrates and fungi, which are underrepresented on the IUCN list, with only 503 species assessed, even though they make up the majority of soil-dependent species - that is, those that spend a critical part of their life cycle in the soil or predominantly inhabit the soil–litter interface.

“There is a possibility that many little-known or yet-undiscovered species of soil-dependent invertebrates and fungi could be lost before they are even discovered - and that is very concerning. We don’t know exactly what the impact of losing these species would be on overall soil health, but it is understood to be negative,” warns the researcher.

Based on this assessment, the study offers recommendations for the academic community, governments, and society to advance knowledge of soil biodiversity:

• Establish a working group on soil biota within the IUCN Species Survival Commission;
• Strengthen ties between regional and global organizations working on soil biodiversity management;
• Improve knowledge sharing among the IUCN, governments, landowners, and the public regarding the importance of soil conservation.

For Cox, this implies broadening communication efforts and emphasizing the importance of preserving a rich diversity of soil-dependent species in land management practices.

“It is difficult to predict all the impacts, but given the importance of these species for various ecosystem services, such as the decomposition of organic matter and the release and cycling of nutrients, a reduction in this diversity will likely affect the overall health of the soil on which we depend,” he concludes.

Brazil already has more than 33 million people aged 60 or older and is on track to become the country with the fifth-largest elderly population in the world. This demographic generates BRL 2 trillion annually, according to a study by the consulting firm Data8.

This economic potential is driven by both consumers and entrepreneurs in the so-called silver economy, a term referring to gray hair.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Brazil’s population growth slows as aging accelerates.

To serve this demographic, business models must adapt to new demands. They seek better lighting in stores, clear signage, accessibility, welcoming service, and a simplified purchasing process. Entrepreneurs who offer these advantages tend to be preferred by older consumers, says Gilvany Isaac, national manager of the Senior Entrepreneurship 60+ program at the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae).

“I believe the silver economy reflects the structural transformation of Brazilian society. Businesses that understand this shift and develop products aligned with it will not only tap into a growing market but also contribute to a more inclusive, sustainable development model focused on longevity,” says Isaac.

Retired banker João Gualberto de Almeida Teixeira belongs to the 70+ demographic. He stresses that what he misses most in customer service is attention.

“I’ve noticed that when you go somewhere, staff are often distracted, looking at other things, and don’t give you the attention you desserve - and, more importantly, need. It’s about being served attentively, that is, eye to eye. That’s fundamental,” says Teixeira.

Sectors

Among the sectors with the greatest potential for the 60+ demographic, Gilvany Isaac highlights health and wellness, such as specialized fitness centers. “This includes adapted training, personalized guidance, and a focus on functionality rather than just aesthetics.”

Another promising niche is telemedicine and remote health monitoring services. “Caregivers are also gaining significant traction, as they can operate as individual microentrepreneurs (MEIs) and obtain a National Registry of Legal Entities (CNPJ). This is increasingly important for families seeking the security of a formal contract, as well as for the caregivers themselves,” notes Isaac.

Another sector with significant potential to serve this population is tourism and leisure - especially companies that offer off-season packages with cultural itineraries and experiential travel. She also highlights financial services, such as planning for active retirement, as well as adapted housing.

“We’re talking about architectural and housing accessibility solutions that adapt homes to provide greater comfort for older adults,” she explains.

Isaac also notes a growing trend in e-commerce among consumers aged 60 and older. They are buying more online, but greater digital engagement is still needed, as this group remains the segment most frequently targeted by scams. There has also been a rise in computer and digital literacy courses aimed at this demographic.

Honey

Microentrepreneur João Lopes approached Sebrae Rio de Janeiro to learn how to structure his business to specifically serve the 60+ demographic. In June 2024, he launched Mel Mania, which sells honey. At 54, João saw a strong business opportunity in this segment.

“My target audience is entirely 60+. I have an 84-year-old customer who buys every month, almost like a subscription. The whole family consumes it, but he is the main buyer,” explains Lopes .

In addition to selling honey nationwide, the company provides free training to people with unused space for honey production. Lopes supplies equipment and support and then buys the honey from his partners. Mel Mania has already introduced 112 people to beekeeping.

“After going through Sebrae, I realized that I am a social entrepreneur, because my business has a positive impact on society. Anyone who buys my honey knows they are helping generate income for others,” he adds.

Training

In Rio de Janeiro, Sebrae is developing a project specifically aimed at serving older adults who wish to remain productive. Sebrae Silver Economy is in its third edition, and the next cohort will begin in May. In total, 144 people have already participated in the program.

The participants are predominantly women and come from a wide range of sectors.

“Many people are starting businesses in gastronomy, the creative economy, crafts, fashion, beauty, and consulting-related services,” explains project manager and Sebrae Rio de Janeiro analyst Juliana Lima.

Regarding senior consumers, Juliana Lima highlighted a rapidly expanding market, as aging in Brazil has evolved. “The profile of older adults has changed. Today, they no longer stay at home as they did in the past. They are active - they travel, date, study, and care about beauty and well-being.”

The Sebrae Silver Economy project works in partnership with other institutions, such as the Social Service of Commerce (Sesc) and the state government, to expand its reach. As of October last year, so-called senior entrepreneurs accounted for 16 percent of all business owners in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

“The population is aging more actively, but the market still presents barriers. Due to ageism in the formal workforce, seniors often turn to entrepreneurship to generate income,” adds Lima.

Although unpopular, the tax on low-value international purchases had positive effects for Brazil, according to a survey released on Wednesday (Apr. 22) by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI).

The business entity reported that the measure helped curb imports, preserve more than 100,000 jobs, and stimulate the Brazilian economy. Billions of reais in foreign products were not purchased, while the tax bolstered state revenues, the confederation stated.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Brazil’s balance of trade posts lowest March surplus since 2020.
• Brazilian government proposes BRL 73B primary surplus for 2027.
• Brazil budget bill projects 2.56% GDP growth in 2027.

CNI calculated the effects of the Import Tax based on the average value of shipments in 2025, comparing the volume of imports it projected for the year with the amount actually recorded.

Key figures from the survey:

• BRL 4.5 billion in avoided imports;
• 135,800 jobs preserved in the country;
• BRL 19.7 billion circulating in the Brazilian economy;
• 10.9% drop in the number of international orders from 2024 to 2025;
• 23.4% decline in the number of shipments in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, before the tax took effect;
• Tax revenue of BRL 1.4 billion in 2024 and BRL 3.5 billion in 2025.

According to CNI, the tax has reduced unfair competition from imported products, particularly those from China, giving a boost to Brazilian industry.

The main objective of the tax, the confederation highlighted, is not to tax consumers but to protect the economy. “Making Brazilian industry competitive is essential to maintaining jobs and generating income,” said Marcio Guerra, CNI’s superintendent of economics.

How the tax operates

The measure establishes a 20 percent import tax on international orders of up to USD 50. In practice, the tax is collected at the time of purchase, facilitating enforcement and reducing fraud. The rule took effect in August 2024 as part of the Remessa Conforme program, created to regulate international e-commerce.

With the new rule, the volume of orders has declined. Shipments to Brazil fell from 179.1 million in 2024 to 159.6 million in 2025.

The Brazilian company Serra Verde, which operates in the rare earth mining sector, was acquired by the US mining company USA Rare Earth (USAR) in a deal valued at approximately USD 2.8 billion. The purchase was announced on Monday (Apr. 20) by both companies.

Serra Verde operates the Pela Ema mine in Minaçu, in the state of Goiás. It is the only active ionic clay mine in Brazil, in operation since 2024. It is also the only producer of the most critical and valuable heavy rare earth elements outside Asia: dysprosium (Dy), terbium (Tb), and yttrium (Y). More than 90 percent of global rare earth extraction takes place in China.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Brazil, Germany ink deal on critical minerals, rare earths.

The materials are used to manufacture permanent magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines, robots, drones, and high-efficiency air conditioners, as well as for the semiconductor, defense, nuclear, and aerospace sectors.

According to the Brazilian mining company, the venture will enable the creation of the world’s largest company in the sector. Production in Goiás is in its first phase and is still considered modest, but is expected to double by 2030.

“Serra Verde’s mining and processing operations will play a central role in establishing the first rare earth supply chain from mine to magnet outside Asia, when combined with USAR’s mining and downstream capabilities,” the Serra Verde Group said in a market announcement.

15-year contract

The contract provides for a 15-year supply agreement with a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), capitalized by various US government agencies as well as private capital sources, for 100 percent of its Phase I production at guaranteed minimum prices for magnetic rare earths.

“The supply agreement provides secure and predictable cash flows for Serra Verde, reducing risks, supporting investments, and enabling its successful development,” the USAR press release states.

According to the statement, the agreement will enable the creation of “a leading multinational rare earth company, from mine to magnet, with eight operations in Brazil, the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, and with active operational capabilities across the entire light and heavy rare earth supply chain, including mining, processing, separation, metallization, and magnet manufacturing.”

“These milestones are a significant positive development for Brazil and demonstrate the country’s ability to play a leading role in the development of global rare earth supply chains,” said Ricardo Grossi, president of Serra Verde Pesquisa e Mineração and chief executive officer of the Serra Verde Group.