Santa Catarina Leads Brazil in Reported Threats Against Women and Racism Crimes
Santa Catarina (SC) has emerged as the Brazilian state with the highest number of reported threats against women and racism offenses in 2025, according to the Brazilian Public Security Yearbook released by the Fórum Brasileiro de Segurança Pública (FBSP). The state recorded 1,733 threat incidents per 100,000 inhabitants, more than double the national average of 720.9. These figures represent cases that reached law enforcement, not the total extent of violence experienced by women.
Furthermore, SC also led the nation in reported racism crimes, with 32.8 incidents per 100,000 people, significantly higher than the national average of 15.7. The state also showed high rates of racial insult, with 27.1 cases per 100,000, compared to the national average of 11.2. The yearbook highlights that while more people are reporting racial violence, systemic disrespect persists, indicating a gap between legal protections and actual security.
Despite these concerning statistics, the study also noted that Santa Catarina achieved the lowest rate of violent deaths in Brazil in 2025, with a homicide rate of 7.6 per 100,000 inhabitants, down from 8.6 in 2024. However, the state also had a high rate of non-compliance with protective measures for women, with 93.8 incidents per 100,000, an increase from the previous year. The report emphasizes the urgent need for preventive measures and early intervention to combat gender-based violence.
The data from the Brazilian Public Security Yearbook reveals a complex situation in Santa Catarina, where a low rate of violent deaths coexists with high reported incidents of threats against women and racial crimes. This suggests that while general homicide rates may be decreasing, specific forms of interpersonal violence and hate crimes are disproportionately concentrated and reported in the state. The significant gap between reported incidents and the actual prevalence of violence, as noted for both femicide-related threats and racial crimes, indicates potential underreporting or systemic barriers to reporting. The high rate of non-compliance with protective measures underscores challenges in enforcing legal safeguards for women. Future policy interventions should consider targeted strategies addressing the root causes of gender-based and racial violence, alongside improving the effectiveness and accessibility of reporting and protection mechanisms, rather than relying solely on reactive punitive measures. The divergence between overall safety metrics and specific crime types warrants a deeper examination of societal factors and law enforcement effectiveness within the state.
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