UN Denounces Use of Religion by Bolsonaro Government to Thwart Women’s Rights

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In a report submitted to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations (UN), Brazil was classified as a country where religion is used to justify the restrictions on access to sex education by girls and women. The report further mentions that reproductive rights and access to sexual health are equally restricted in the country.

According to UOL columnist Jamil Chade, the study was conducted during the first year of Jair Bolsonaro’s government, when sexual and reproductive health education programs were cut. The people interviewed in the study claimed that such a scenario is the result of “pressure from religious groups”.

Since Bolsonaro took office, Brazil’s human rights policy has undergone major changes based on religious values. The Minister in charge of the area, Damares Alves, recently declared that the extension of the church is one of the government’s priorities.

“It’s time for the church to take over the nation,” the Minister said in an interview last week during her stint at UN meetings. According to her, the “gender ideology” has manipulated the gay movement, and the left-wing is issuing generic denunciations against the government.

Damares also stressed the “defense of life,” an argument used by the government for not legalizing abortion.