Brazil’s First Lady, Rosângela Lula da Silva, known as Janja, revealed Tuesday she has been the target of sexual harassment on two occasions since her husband, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, assumed office.
Speaking on the TV Brasil program Sem Censura, Janja described a climate of insecurity for women in Brazil, stating, “It’s unbearable for us women. I, as First Lady, don’t have security anywhere I go. I have already been harassed twice during this period. I, being First Lady, in places I think are safe and even so, I was harassed.” She contrasted her own experience, with a security detail and precautions, with the vulnerability of ordinary women, asking, “If I, as First Lady, who has an entire team around me, a watchful eye, cameras, care, am harassed, imagine a woman at a bus stop at ten o’clock at night.”
Janja’s disclosure came during a discussion about rising rates of femicide in Brazil. Recent data from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security indicates a record 1,470 femicides occurred in 2023, surpassing the previous high of 1,464 in 2022. The First Lady drew a parallel to a recent incident involving Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who was approached and briefly touched by a supporter while greeting the public.
The First Lady emphasized the need for a multi-faceted approach to address violence against women, encompassing legal reforms, increased penalties, education, and changes within the home. “We will only be able to reach a society where we experience safe when these paths meet ahead,” she stated, according to CNN Brasil.
Janja did not provide specific details regarding the locations or circumstances of the two incidents of harassment she experienced. No official statement has been released detailing any investigation or security review prompted by her disclosures.
