October 03, 2023

Brazil hopes for the first black woman on the Supreme Court

topic:	Discrimination
located:	Brazil
editor:	Ellen Nemitz

Due to its history of black African slavery, a system abolished just 135 years ago, Brazil is a country of 56 per cent black or brown people. Despite being the majority of the population, members of this group still face underrepresentation in leadership positions, both in the private and public sectors. A campaign led by civil society wants to change this. 

Entitled "Ministra Negra no STF" (Black female minister on the Supreme Court), the movement has support from more than twenty organisations such as Coalizão Negra por Direitos (Black Coalition for Rights) and Instituto de Defesa da População Negra (Institute for the Defence of Black People). It aims to pressure President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to nominate a professional to occupy the vacancy left by Minister Rosa Weber, who is entering mandatory retirement on 2 October at age 75.

Weber will leave a legacy of progressive decisions behind her, among which stand out the recent vote against the Time Limit Trick for the demarcation of indigenous lands and her advocacy for the legalisation of abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy for all women (nowadays, abortion is permitted only in case of rape, risk of life for the mother or if the foetus is unviable). In her place, Lula has indicated he wants to instate a white man for the second time this year after he nominated his former lawyer Cristiano Zanin in May for the vacancy of Ricardo Lewandowski. 

Another white male in power would be a setback for the diversity of the country's highest court, which has barely advanced over the years. Two black ministers occupied a chair between 1907 and 1937; the next one came only in 2003 - minister Joaquim Barbosa - and he has already retired. 

The first woman achieved the position in 2000. Moreover, according to the campaign introduction, the Justice System is unequally represented: 7 per cent of first-instance judges in Brazil are black women and, in the second instance, no more than 2 per cent.

"Having a progressive black female minister on the Supreme Court is essential to advance the necessary transformation of the Brazilian justice system, not only because of the importance of seeing the people represented in the spheres of power, but also because of all the structural changes in the way justice is applied," Reads the letter addressed to Lula from 25 female deputies from several parties. The text goes on to highlight that Lula's administration is the best moment to advance, but that "this battle has not yet been won."

"In times of struggle to strengthen Brazilian democracy, the choice of a black woman to the position of Supreme Court Justice represents a crucial political and social advance and would confirm this government's commitment to equality, inclusion and diversity." Reads the letter.

Image by Gerd Altmann.

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