What we do

The Catholic faith is professed by almost 74% of the Brazilian population, i.e. 135 million people. The conservative religious ideas contribute towards perpetuating gender inequality making difficult the advancement of social justice and the strengthening of the rights of women, so the unique position of Católicas pelo Direito de Decidir offers a real possibility in the deconstruction of fundamentalist ideas which submit women to so much injustice, for we produce and disseminate ethical and religious arguments which strengthen all social movements in their struggle for profound change in the social mentality.

Católicas pelo Direito de Decidir - Brasil has been active in Brazil since 1993, focusing on six inter-related areas of action:

a) Formation: organization of (or participation in) workshops, seminars and debates on subjects relating to sexuality, reproductive rights, religion and women’s empowerment;

b) Media: expansion of the social support base for sexual rights and reproductive rights, publishing and disseminating ethical and religious arguments which favor the struggle against gender inequality, contributing towards opinion forming through constant contact regarding important procedures, with the media;

c) Church/Social Movements: coordination with progressive sectors of the Catholic Church and with organized social movements, especially the women’s movement;

d) Publications: production of specific publications, videos and radio programs, always on the subject of religion in a way that favors the sexual and reproductive rights of women;

e) Action in parliament: bringing awareness to the National Congress of the need for laws which respond to the interests of women, supplying information to parliamentarians on ethical-religious issues for the approval of laws which increase sexual rights and reproductive rights.

f) Academic Research: to subsidize all our actions, we conducted theoretical investigations, in order to give substance to our productions and arguments. The academic training of our team guarantees the scientific rigor necessary for the conduct of research and theoretical studies.

Click here to see the English version of the Manifesto from Catholics Women for the Right to Decide – Brazil on the Catholic Church’s Brotherhood Campaign 2008