SPW and LSE host seminar on anti-gender movements in Latin America
On April 11th and 12th, the seminar “Mapping and resisting the gender phantasm in Latin America: geographies of ‘anti-gender’ movements” took place in Rio de
Article “Welcome to the Kremlim
This article is one of the chapters of the book “This is War”, written by the Polish feminist journalist Klementyna Suchanova. We dearly thanks her
The rise of Georgia Meloni: An interview with Massimo Prearo
SPW: There has been a lot of talk abroad about Giorgia Meloni, the far-right politician who made a meteoric rise in the polls, becoming Italy’s
NEW E-BOOK: Anti-Gender Politics in Latin America in the Pandemic Context
SPW has launched the English version of our latest research. The e-book “Anti-Gender Politics in Latin America in the Pandemic Context” presents the results of
Anti-gender politics in Latin America during the pandemic: A review – Launching debate
SPW has launched the e-book “Antigender Policies in Latin America in the Pandemic Context”. The e-book presents the results of the second research phase
Summaries of Country Case Studies
Between 2018 and 2020, SPW conducted a research effort on Anti-gender Politics in LatinAmerica. This e-book offers condensed versions of all studies that encompass the
An interview with Massimo Prearo: The Zan Law failure, the neo – Catholic movement and Vatican’s Politics:
In the last Special Issue of last year we did a brief assessment of Vatican politics. Concomitantly, we published an article by the Italian political
Brazil: New president of the House opens the road for anti-abortion provisions
by Thais Rodrigues and Edson Sardinha* Brazilian conservative and extreme-right parliamentarians are planing to take advantage of the new presidency of the House, MP Arthur

Ambiguities and Riddles of Pope Francis Sexual Politics: Retrospective of the past eight years
2013 SPW Newsletter N.13 – July, 2013 – SPW 2014 Vatican Document: Gays Have ‘Gifts and Qualities to Offer’ Church – NBC News Catholic bishops
Léon Ferrari and the implacable contestation to religion
In his artistic practice, Léon Ferrari makes use of different languages, such as sculpture, drawing, writing, collage, assemblage, installation, and video. This heterogeneous set of

The Guriri Girl Case: compilation of news
A 10-Year-Old Girl’s Ordeal to Have a Legal Abortion in Brazil – HRW Brazil 10-year-old rape victim name anti-abortion activist put online make pipo vex
Pope Francis discursive games
Since 2013, Pope Francis I has been making unexpected comments about homosexuality, which usually call for compassion and tolerance. While these speech acts erupt here
Bergoglio and Inclusive Capitalism: A New Front for the Vatican?
The Council for Inclusive Capitalism with the Vatican, A New Alliance Of Global Business Leaders, Launches Today – PR Newswire Council for Inclusive Capitalism launches
Vatican Politics: Dispersed Events in the Same Plot
By Sonia Corrêa A new encyclical signed by Pope Francis I was published in early October 2020. Entitled Fratelli Tutti, the new papal exhortation was
Brief note on the politology of a Catholic discourse
By Massimo Prearo* That words such as “revolution”, “change” or “turn” can be attributed to a religious institution like the Catholic Church, or to the

Pope Francis and civil union “support”: compilation
Vatican says Pope’s comments on same-sex civil unions were taken out of context – CNN Vatican clarifies pope’s comments on homosexual unions – DW Vatican

US Supreme Court Succession: what’s at stake and comes next after RBG?
Majority says winner of presidential election should nominate next Supreme Court justice, Post-ABC poll finds – Washington Post Trump’s Selection of Amy Coney Barrett for
The case of the girl from Espírito Santo: Is this a new turning point in the long journey for abortion rights in Brazil?
By Sonia Corrêa Since 1940, Brazilian law has permitted abortion in cases of rape, and sexual intercourse with persons under 14 years old is automatically

A catch in the US Supreme Court decisions
US Supreme Court LGBT worker ruling has a giant loophole – Al Jazeera Devil in the detail of SCOTUS ruling on workplace bias puts LGBTQ

Gender in the New Vatican Directory for Catechesis
A widespread orientation of what is presented today under the name of gender, calls into question the revealed fact: «Man and woman He created them».

Brazil vetos term “gender” from UN resolution: a compilation
Itamaraty instructs diplomats to stress that gender is only biological sex – Folha de São Paulo Eleonora Menicucci: Women will not bow to the delay of

Vatican New Guideline on Gender and Education
Vatican Issues Document During Pride Month Denying Concept Of Gender Identity – NPR LGBTQ Catholics denounce Vatican’s document on gender identity – PBS Vatican rejects
Permanent War, Decreasing Popularity: What Will Come Next?
By Fábio Grotz A continuous state of war driven by the government is what drives the speech and activities of actors engaged in the redemptive
Sexual politics in Brazil: Almost 180 days into the JMB Administration
With great pleasure, SPW offers an assessment of sexuality and gender politics, including abortion rights, in the first (almost) six months of the Jair Messias
CONIC and FEACT Joint Note: Brazilian Evangelical young woman will have to leave the country after a series of threats
Brazil’s National Council of Christian Churches (CONIC) expresses solidarity with young Christian Evangelical Camila Montovani who, after a series of threats, will have to leave

2019 World Congress of Family: compilation of news and analysis
GIFTS Statement on the World Congress of Families – Politesse Feminist resistance against the 2019 WCF: compilation World Congress of Families in Verona: An international

Vatican and Pope Francis in early 2019: compilation
Sexual Scandals Sexual abuse summit Pope Francis describes feminism as ‘machismo with a skirt’ – The Irish Times Pope Francis Disappoints Sex Abuse Victims With
The Brazilian 2018 Election: A perfect catastophre?
Read Sonia Corrêa’s article on the antecedents, outcomes and meanings of the 2018 Brazilian presidential elections.
Brazilian 2018 presidential elections in figures
This fact sheet present figures of the results of the second round of the 2018 Brazilian presidential elections. The data comes from different sources: Items
Sexual politics in September 2018
September is the key moment of the year in the global struggle for abortion rights, as the 28th marks the International Safe Abortion Day. In
Sexual politics in August 2018
#MourningMuseuNacional: As this announcement was being finalized, the Brazilian National Museum burned in flames. A singular and irrecoverable collection of the country’s historical and cultural
The Chilean Catholic Church and its crisis
By Jaime Barrientos Chile began 2018 with a visit from Pope Francis. The country still remembered the one paid by John Paul II who, in

A new chapter in the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal: a compilation
After the Pennsylvania Report release Faithful Catholics Respond After Abuse Scandals: Commitments to Change and Belief in Pope Francis – The New York Times Why Changes
Sexual politics in July 2018
22nd International AIDS Conference: On July 22, Pedro Villardi, from GTPI-ABIA, participated in the Challenging Criminalization Globally Pre-Conference, one of the more important satellites events

Opposing reactions to abortion in Argentina and Ireland
Pope Calls Abortion ‘White Glove’ Equivalent of Nazi Crimes – The New York Times Argentina’s top bishop says abortion is ‘not a right, but a tragedy’
Sonia Corrêa’s Talk at the Gender Threat(ened) Colloquium (UERJ, 2017)
Watch Sonia Corrêa’s speech ‘Gender Ideology: tracking its origins and meanings in current gender politics’ at the Gender Threat(ened) conference in Rio de Janeiro’s State

Gaudete et Exsultate: Pope Francis in target
Pro-Lifers Dismiss Pope’s Declaration that Protecting Migrants Is Just as Important as Abortion – Slate Pro-life leader: Pope Francis’ new exhortation ‘causes confusion’ on gravity
The Pope’s visit to Chile: the limits of the ‘Francis phenomenon’
By José Manuel Morán Faúndes Things did not turn out as expected in Chile. Pope Francis, whose image as a charismatic leader sharply contrasts with
Sexual politics in February and early March 2018
Main global trends Another mass shooting in Parkland (Florida) shocked the US and the world. Research findings that gained visibility after the tragedy reveal that
Pope Francis visit to Peru and Chile: a compilation
Sex Abuse Case Shadows Pope Francis’ Visit to Peru – The New York Times Pope Francis arrives in crisis-hit Peru – BBC News Why Pope
Sexual Politics 2017 Round-Up
As 2018 begins, SPW highlights the main events and trends as well as tensions and challenges traversing sexual politics worldwide. Trends and Facts January In
390 signatures against abortion ban in Brazil
This letter was read at the closing session of the Special Meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Population and Development in

Sexual Politics in October 2017
October began with the International Day of the Girl on the 11th when the media attention was towards highlighting how access to education, especially in some
The Anatrella case and the silence from the “family defenders”
What happens when a big name of the anti-gender crusade is involved in a sex scandal? By Rogério Diniz Junqueira* Monsignor Tony Anatrella is a

Rights at risk
The Observatory on the Universality of Rights (OURs) has launched its first report, Rights at Risk. The report maps a complex global anti-rights lobby targeting

Australian Cardinal George Pell charged with sexual offence: news
How Cardinal Pell Rose to Power, Trailed by a Cloud of Scandal – New York Times Australian Cardinal and Aide to Pope Is Charged With

Religion and Gender Special Issue Habemus Gender!
Habemus Gender! The Catholic Church and ‘Gender Ideology’ – Volume 6 – Issue 2 – 2016 Guest editors: Sarah Bracke and David Paternotte You can

UN Human Rights Council: report on Fundamentalism, Extremism and Cultural Rights
The Secretariat has the honour to transmit to the Human Rights Council the report of the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, Karima

The New Morality of Pope Francis
Read New Yorker‘s article, authored by James Carroll, on Pope Francis’s latest apostolic exhortation, “Amoris Laetitia” (“The Joy of Love”).
Brazilian abortion politics: An update
During 2015, as previously reported by SPW, Brazilian abortion politics continued to evolve under pressures created by the unsettled intersection of regressive policy trends (which have been gaining strength since the mid 2000’s) and the macro-political crisis which has overtaken the Brazilian res publica.

Nigerian lawmakers voted down a women equality bill citing the Bible and Sharia law
Originally posted on QZ on 15/03/2016. Available at: https://qz.com/africa/639763/nigerian-lawmakers-voted-down-a-women-equality-bill-citing-the-bible-and-sharia-law Nigerian lawmakers on Tuesday (Mar.15), voted against a gender and equal opportunities bill (pdf). The bill,

‘Spotlight’ abuse scandal didn’t end in Boston. In South America, it’s still unfolding
The Boston Globe’s investigation busted open a massive Catholic Church scandal in the United States 14 years ago. But in remote parts of South America, GlobalPost discovered that the church practice of reassigning child abusers to another parish, instead of defrocking them, has continued.

Pope and Patriarch Misrepresent the True Meaning of Secularism and Seek to Impose their Beliefs on Others
Originally published on Catholics for Choice. Available at: https://www.catholicsforchoice.org/news/pr/2016/PopeandPatriarchMisrepresent.asp On his way to Mexico, Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic church, met with Russian

The Synod on Family
The Synod on Family has ended in October 24 with a final document produced by the bishops gathered at the Assembly called by Pope Francis

Articles of Pope Francis’ meeting with Kim Davis
Pope Francis’s meeting with Kim Davis disappointed the liberals he courted – The Guardian Vatican: Pope Francis Barely Knew Who Kim Davis Was When He

“Christian Role Models for LGBT Equality” Guide
Stonewall Acceptance without Exception has launched the “Christian Role Models for LGBT Equality” Guide, which contains 20 stories from LGBT Christians and allies for LGBT
Struggling for legal abortion in Brazil: The Congress frontline
Image: Barbara Kruger By Sonia Corrêa[1] As previously reported by SPW (here and here), for some time now, growing obstacles have been impairing any movement

It’s Pope Francis Who Should Apologize on Abortion
With his latest comments, Pope Francis has built a shiny new smokescreen to distract from the grave and immoral harms caused by the Vatican’s opposition to abortion and women’s equality.

Pope Francis’ decision to forgive women who have abortion is criticized by reproductive rights advocates
Pope Francis once more gained global visibility by allowing priests to forgive women who have had an abortion. His speech — delivered on September first

Colonizing African Values: How the U.S. Christian Right is Transforming Sexual Politics in Africa
Uganda’s infamous 2009 Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which would institute the death penalty for a new and surreal category of offenses dubbed “aggravated homosexuality,” captured international headlines

Sexual Politics in June 2015
On June 18th, the Vatican launched the encyclical “Laudato Si – On Care for Our Common Home”. The encyclical is the first one to have

Pope Francis’ Call for Equal Pay for Equal Work: Toothless, But Promising
Originally published on Rewire on 30/04/2015. Available at: http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2015/04/30/pope-francis-call-equal-pay-equal-work-toothless-promising/ by Erin Matson Sadly, the more Pope Francis speaks, the more things stay the same. (Philip Chidell

U.S. Push for Abstinence in Africa Is Seen as Failure Against H.I.V.
Originally published on NYT on 26/02/2015. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/health/american-hiv-battle-in-africa-said-to-falter.html?_r=0 By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. FEB. 26, 2015 SEATTLE — The $1.3 billion that the United
‘A Distinctly French Universalism’: Translating Laïcité after Charlie
Originally published on Jadaliyya on 26/01/2015. Available at: http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/20626/%E2%80%98a-distinctly-french-universalism%E2%80%99_translating-la%C3%AF by Muriam Haleh Davis It was impossible to avoid the discussion, despite my repeated protests. In Lyon,

Pope Francis’ Remarks About Birth Control ‘Methods’ Offend Pro-Choice Catholics
Originally published on Rewire on 21/01/2015. Available at: http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2015/01/21/pope-francis-remarks-birth-control-methods-offend-pro-choice-catholics/ by Martha Kempner January 21, 2015 – 1:15 pm Pope Francis, on his way home from his
Working Paper No. 5 – Pope’s visit to Brazil, by Washington Castilhos
In 2007, the Pope’s visit to Brazil mobilized groups in opposition to the Vatican’s moral dogmatism. In support of these groups, SPW, in close collaboration

Conversion Therapy: A Bigger Threat to Africa Than Scott Lively
Originally published on Political Research, on 06/10/2014. Available at: http://www.politicalresearch.org/2014/10/06/conversion-therapy-a-bigger-threat-to-africa-than-scott-lively/# By Kapya Kaoma, on October 6, 2014 Conversion therapy, also known as ex-gay or reparative therapy,

Not the ‘Illuminati’: How Fundamentalist Christians Are Infiltrating State and Federal Government
An article from RH Reality Check shows how fundamentalist christians are reaching space on US state and federal governmemt. Read here.

Brazil’s abortion nightmare: Why one desperate woman lied about rape
Article by Aljazeera highlights the difficult choices Brazilian women are forced to make when trying to end a pregnancy in the country with the largest

The Gathering: The Religious Right’s Cash Cow
Learn more about “The Gathering”, a secretive group that provides funding for many evangelical causes at US, including the anti-LGBT movements abroad. Here.

Louisiana: Repeal ‘Crime Against Nature’ Laws
According to Human Rights Watch, the Louisiana State House of Representatives voted to repeal a law, enacted in 1805, that punishes and undermines LGBT rights.

It’s Not Just Uganda: Behind the Christian Right’s Onslaught in Africa
The Nation brings an article about the role of American Christian organizations in triggering anti-LGBT laws. Click here.

The Pope’s Tone Softens — But The Vatican Is Still Fighting LGBT Rights Around The World
Read J. Lester Feder’s article published on Buzz Feed in which the author discusses how “Pope Francis’ softening tone on LGBT issues does not appear to

Does Pope Francis Have a Woman Problem?
Read article “Does Pope Francis Have a Woman Problem?”, from the Daily Beast, which points that pope Francis is undoubtedly forward-thinking—except for when it comes

Killing Them Softly: Pope Francis Condemns Income Inequality, Sanctions Gender Inequality
Reality Check brings Adele M. Stan’s article about how Pope Francis “when it comes to inequality of the sexes, enthusiastically embraces Rome’s status quo, using

HRW asks the Holy See to condemn violence and discrimination against LGBT People
Human Rights Watch send a letter to Pope Francis asking that Catholic Church to “condemn violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)

28 September: Global Campaign for the Decriminalization of Abortion
On this 28 September, the SPW publishes report developed by the International Campaign for Women’s Rights to Safe Abortion in which it shows the effects

The meaning of silence
During his apostolic journey to Rio de Janeiro for the 28th World Youth Day, Pope Francis did not repeat the Vatican’s old rhetoric. Instead, he

Pope Francis remarks on sexual and reproductive issues
Pope Francis, once more, came with new remarks on issues related to sexual and reproduticve rights. His messages prompted reaction all over the world. What
SPW Newsletter N.13 – July, 2013
SPW Newsletter No. 13 landscapes the implications of the new papacy of Francis the First for the sexual and reproductive rights in Latin America. We invited five SPW partners: Daniel Jones, Diana Maffía and Juan Marco Vaggione, from Argentina; Edgar Ruiz, from Mexico; and Maria José Rosado, from Brazil to share their views on how this political shift at the Vatican will affect sexual politics in the region. We choose three authors from Argentina because we wanted critical assessments made by analysts more closely acquainted with Bergoglio’s trajectory and political style. Edgar Ruiz in his article provides a sweeping view of the new papacy from a wider Latin American perspective, and Maria Jose Rosado’s interview speaks more directly of the Brazilian context including concerns about the papal visit and its potential negative impacts.

Read more on Vatican’s financial scandal
Read more on Vatican’s financial scandal.

SPW Newsletter’s 13 – author’s profiles
Maria José Rosado Sociologist. Teacher at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo. She founded the Brazilian NGO Catholics for Free Choice. Her field of


Pedophilia, Ratzinger and the Catholic Church
> To Sinead O’Connor, the pope’s apology for sex abuse in Ireland seems hollow, by Sinead O’Connor at The Washington Post > Should There Be

Abortion and Human Rights: the current Brazilian controversy
Read the article “Abortion and Human Rights: the current Brazilian controversy”, by Sonia Corrêa, on the important setbacks in regard to abortion that Brazil has been experiencing in recent years.

The stand taken by one brave catholic priest against Prop-8, the California referendum on gay marriage
USA: Read about the stand taken by one brave catholic priest against Prop-8, the California referendum on gay marriage.

New Spanish Abortion Law
Spain: The Spanish Senate voted to ease the country’s restrictions on abortion, rejecting the opposition of the Catholic bishops and the Vatican over access to safe and legal abortion in that country.

SPW Newsletter n.7 – October, 2009
In this issue, you find information on the main activities which SPW has been involved since June. The first one is the Latin American Regional Dialogue on Sexuality and Geoplitics that took place in Rio de Janeiro, in August, and gathered close to 50 researchers and activists to reflect on the sexual political landscape in the region. The other important activity is that SPW’s is involved in the global research EroTICs: Sexuality and the internet – an exploratory research project, organized by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC WNSP). Read also about global and local events involving sexuality, politics, as well as recent sexuality/sexual rights advocacy. See what projects and events connect art and sexuality and browse listings of upcoming events, scholarships, job opportunities and publications.

The abortion front lines – Newsletter n.7
In the last few months one main legal and policy regression has been registered in relation to legal abortion. Read more about it in the section “Around the world – The abortion front lines” of the Newsletter n.7.

Fourth panel – Religion and Sexual Politics
Fourth panel – Religion and Sexual Politics Afternoon – August 25, 2009 After the presentation and debate of the conference overview paper on religion and

Fourth Session – Sexuality, Religion and Politics
Fourth Session – Sexuality, Religion and Politics Afternoon – August 25, 2009 The last session of the Dialogue, coordinated by Gloria Careaga, started with the

Thousands of child abuse cases in Ireland
Ireland: For decades, thousands of Irish children suffered soul-crushing lives of forced labor, beatings and molestation in institutions run by Roman Catholic religious orders.

SPW Newsletter N.1 – April, 2007
In this issue read the first article of a series produced by SPW about the Pope Benedict XVI visit to Brazil on May 2007 and its implications for national political debates on sexuality and human rights. See also the proposal for the SPW participation at the 6th International Conference organized by International Association for the Study of Sexuality, Culture and Society (IASSCS) and check the suggestions about publications, events and opportunities.
Sexuality and Hate Crimes
By Vagner de Almeida * Sexuality and Hate Crimes is a documentary and the first alternative film produced by Director Vagner de Almeida and Richard


































