In a significant development, Brazil’s federal police have formally accused Silvio Almeida, the former human rights minister under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, of sexual misconduct. The allegations, which led to Almeida’s dismissal last September, have now escalated into a formal investigation. A police official, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization, confirmed the accusations on Saturday. Prosecutors are currently reviewing the case to determine whether to press charges. If charges are filed, the Supreme Court will decide whether to proceed to trial. Almeida, a prominent Black law professor and anti-racism advocate in Lula’s administration, has previously denied the allegations but has remained silent since the formal accusation was reported by local media on Friday. The accusations have cast a shadow over Lula’s government, particularly given Almeida’s vocal stance against racism alongside Anielle Franco, the Minister for Racial Equality, who was named as one of the alleged victims. Franco, who entered politics following the murder of her sister Marielle Franco, a Rio de Janeiro councilwoman, publicly supported Lula’s decision to dismiss Almeida. The case has reignited discussions about violence against women in Brazil, where over one in three women has experienced sexual or gender-based violence, according to a 2025 report by the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety. Isabel Rodrigues, a professor in São Paulo, has accused Almeida of sexual assault and emphasized the need for justice and support for victims.
Lula’s former human rights minister formally accused of sexual misconduct
