MACEIÓ – “Agosto Lilás: Autonomia e Acolhimento às Vítimas de Violência Garantidos pela Prefeitura”

Mayor JHC of Maceió, Alagoas has signaled a significant shift in administrative policy since the beginning of his term by prioritizing the fight against violence towards women through various innovative programs and intervention measures. The focus is on ensuring autonomy and providing broad support, specifically targeting women who are victims of domestic violence.

One of the first policy moves was the establishment of a specialized department with a mandate to address the needs of this vulnerable demographic on an ongoing basis. The department has the responsibility of listening and responding to essential needs and addressing concerns through collaborative actions in the domains of education, health, safety, and social assistance. Thus, furthering the fundamental rights for the capital’s female populace.

As a primary initiative, the ‘Salve Mulher’ program permanently battles violence and harassment, importantly extending its protective arm to local women and tourists visiting the capital.

One of the key facets within this program is ‘Maceió Sem Assédio’, which trains the staff from over 100 commercial establishments across the city with a proprietary protocol. This protocol equips them to provide support, consultation, and direction to women who may find themselves in a situation of violence or harassment in those commercial environments.

The program not only reaches out to commercial entities but extends to events organized by the city, marked by acts of awareness, combating harassment, and providing broad-based support.

By recognizing the need for socio-economic empowerment, the administration introduced the ‘Emprega Mulher’ initiative. This program propels women on the social fringes towards economic and financial independency, pushing the prospects of employability and self-sufficiency.

Over 800 women have already benefited from this training, gaining a wide array of competencies in diverse professional fields, with free courses offered in collaboration with Senai Alagoas.

One of the most impactful methods to extricate the cycle of violence is to foster independence within women. The Mayor proudly spearheads the ‘Banco da Mulher Empreendedora’, which extends exclusive social credits to Maceió’s women entrepreneurs, assisting them in expanding their own businesses or even kick-starting new ventures.

This program creates parity for women in the local marketplace and fuels female entrepreneurship. Mayor JHC’s public policies seek to promote gender equality and create conditions for women to liberate themselves from cycles of violence, abuse, and aggression. In fact, in 2022 the mayor signed a decree reserving 5% of residential spots in housing projects for domestic violence victims.

“Regrettably, we are still dealing with high rates of violence against women, which needs to be effectively combated with public security policies,” Mayor JHC states. “But we don’t wait for things to happen. Instead, we act, with measures to empower, provide assistance, and promote independence for these women. We are here for Maceió’s women and they know they can count on the city hall”.

The city’s pioneering approach has become a national benchmark and could inform legislation to enhance safety and support for women in public places throughout Brazil.