New Movement Focuses on Diversity in Foreign Office as Lula Returns to Power

After over a century since Maria José de Castro Rebello Mendes became Brazil’s first female diplomat in 1918, women in Brazil’s foreign service are now rallying for equal rights, opportunity, and representation. Despite their long-standing presence, women still make up less than 25% of Brazil’s diplomatic corps and only 12% of ambassadors.

The newly formed Association of Female Brazilian Diplomats, led by senior diplomat Irene Vida Gala, is pushing to address this underrepresentation. “We are blossoming at this moment of democratic government,” said Gala, referencing the political shift under Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s return to power. Lula’s administration, with its focus on diversity, marks a stark contrast to the misogynistic policies of his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.

During Bolsonaro’s presidency, the Brazilian foreign ministry, Itamaraty, was deeply influenced by his nationalistic and conservative agenda, and it took a significant hit under his leadership. According to Marília Closs of the thinktank Plataforma Cipó, the damage was profound. “What we have today is scorched earth,” Closs said, referencing the destruction of Brazil’s traditional foreign policy, which once emphasized multilateralism and cooperation. Bolsonaro’s foreign minister, a climate denialist, prioritized policies that aligned with the president’s ultra-conservative worldview, causing Brazil’s global standing and influence to falter. This included undermining gender rights and sidelining efforts to tackle climate change.

The return of Lula has sparked hope among women diplomats, as the president has pledged to rebuild the country’s diplomatic stature and create a more inclusive foreign policy, reflecting a broader effort to address gender and racial disparities in Brazil’s political landscape.