First Lady Rosângela da Silva, known as Janja, stated in an interview on TV Brasil that she suffered sexual harassment twice since taking office, even with a security team. She highlighted the lack of safety for women in general and advocated combining education and strict laws to address the issue. Janja also mentioned influencing President Lula on topics like feminicide.
First Lady Rosângela da Silva, known as Janja, appeared on the Sem Censura program on TV Brasil on Tuesday (3) and revealed she was harassed twice while in office, after President Lula (PT) took office. "I can say here that I have already been harassed, in this period, twice. I, as first lady, being in places I think are safe. Even so, I was harassed," she said. Janja emphasized women's vulnerability: "It's unbearable for us women. I, as first lady, have no security anywhere I am." She compared her situation to that of an ordinary woman, stating: "If I, as first lady, with a team around, have already gone through this, imagine a woman at the bus stop at 10 p.m.?".
In the interview, Janja defended that harassment reports are personal decisions. "The report is a very personal decision of each woman. I don't accept any man telling me: 'you will report'. I don't accept it. No man knows the pain," she declared. She cited the case of Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum, who was publicly harassed in November by a man arrested in Mexico City.
Janja is an active voice against harassment and feminicide in the government. Brazil recorded 1,470 feminicide cases in 2025, a record, according to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, totaling 13,448 victims since the crime was typified in 2015. She mentioned discussing the issue with Lula: "I have been doing this in everyday life with my husband." People close to the president indicate he changed behaviors since his relationship with Janja. Last month, the government launched a pact against feminicide with other branches of power, but without practical actions or defined budget.
Host Cissa Guimarães joked: "You saw that you speak, he listens and he does, so you make sure to speak more." Janja replied: "He reflects a lot." To combat the problem, Janja proposes uniting education and severe punishments to change the culture and ensure women's safety.
