Mato Grosso lives with one of the most worrying scenarios in the country when it comes to violence against women. Between 2019 and 2025, the state recorded 338 femicides, according to data from the Caliandra Observatory, the Public Ministry of Mato Grosso, and the Brazilian Public Security Forum. These numbers show that the murder of women remains among the biggest challenges for public authorities and represent interrupted lives, destroyed families and generations marked by violence.
The urgency of protecting women in Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso lives with one of the most worrying scenarios in the country when it comes to violence against women. Between 2019 and 2025, the state recorded 338 femicides, according to data from the Caliandra Observatory, the Public...
These numbers show that the murder of women remains among the biggest challenges for public authorities and represent interrupted lives, destroyed families and generations marked by violence. In 2025 alone, 54 women were murdered and 89 children were orphaned as a result of these crimes in the state.
- By June 2026, another 22 cases had already been registered, leaving at least 23 children without their mothers, according to data from the Civil Judiciary Police (PJC-MT).
- These indicators reinforce the urgency of permanent policies to prevent, protect and guarantee women's rights.
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In 2025 alone, 54 women were murdered and 89 children were orphaned as a result of these crimes in the state. By June 2026, another 22 cases had already been registered, leaving at least 23 children without their mothers, according to data from the Civil Judiciary Police (PJC-MT). These indicators reinforce the urgency of permanent policies to prevent, protect and guarantee women's rights.
Despite the advances provided by the Maria da Penha Law and the classification of feminicide, Brazil recorded, in 2024, 1,492 victims, the highest number since the creation of this criminal type. In 2025, official records exceeded 2,000 murdered women, according to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, demonstrating that lethal violence against women continues to be one of the most serious human rights violations in the country.
The profile of victims also reveals profound inequalities. Black women represent 67.5% of cases, according to the 2026 Violence Atlas, showing that feminicide is aggravated by social, racial and economic inequalities.
Therefore, facing this reality cannot be limited to the criminal response. Many women remain in abusive relationships due to fear, economic dependence, lack of a support network or difficulty accessing protective services. Breaking this cycle requires acceptance, strengthening female autonomy and public policies capable of acting before violence reaches its cruelest outcome.
Education is one of the most effective tools to prevent violence against women. Several studies demonstrate that staying in school increases opportunities for entry into the job market, strengthens knowledge of one's rights and reduces factors historically associated with female vulnerability. Public policies such as daycare centers, full-time education, professional qualifications, Bolsa Família and Nestlés expand opportunities, promote autonomy and contribute to reducing situations of dependency and violence.
In this election year, this discussion gains even more relevance. Women represent 52.84% of the Brazilian electorate and will play a decisive role in defining the country's direction. It is not enough to demand answers when violence has already happened. It is necessary to elect representatives committed to public policies capable of preventing feminicide, strengthening the protection network and ensuring that girls and women can live without fear.
The country needs to overcome simplistic responses and promote a more qualified public debate about the roots of this violence. Tackling femicide requires integrated policies that expand protection for victims, strengthen their autonomy, promote education for equality and ensure that the State fulfills its duty to protect lives. This is an urgent agenda, which requires permanent commitment, public investment and effective action.
Guelda Andrade has a master's degree in Education from UFMT, a specialist in School Management, a public education employee and national director of the CNTE. It works to defend public education, the appreciation of education professionals and the strengthening of Brazilian educational policies.