The Encampment brought together around 600 women from all MST regions in Salvador, from March 28 to 30, 2025
Driven by the dream of a more just society, women began the Encampment with a powerful gesture of unity and resistance. Between March 28 and 30, 2025, around 600 women from the countryside and the city will meet in Salvador for the 14th State Encampment of Women from the Countryside and the City.
With the theme “Women in struggle, in defense of our bodies and territories, against agribusiness and for Good Living!” The first day was marked by the reaffirmation of their collective strength, charting new directions for the struggle.
The dawn was greeted by a war cry that echoed with vigor: “Agribusiness is violence and environmental crime: women's struggle is against capital.” This is a denunciation of the impacts of agribusiness on the environment and women's lives.
The mistica of the meeting brought to light a strong criticism of domestic violence, a reality that still marks the lives of so many women. In an act full of symbolism and emotion, they reaffirmed their commitment to the fight for the preservation of women's lives and the right to exist without fear.
The Encampment brought together women from all regions of the Landless Workers' Movement (MST), coming from the Far South, South, Lower South, Southeast, North, Northeast, West, São Francisco, Chapada Diamantina and Recôncavo. They were joined by movements such as Levante Popular Juventude, Marcha Mundial das Mulheres, Central Única dos Trabalhadores (CUT), Movimento das Pequenas e dos Pequenos Agricultores (MPA), among others, further strengthening this moment of unity and resistance. The opening panel was attended by several leaders and references in the popular struggle: Jazian Mota (MST), Professor Mônica, Saiane (MPA), Alidaí (CUT), Osny, Thifanny Conceição, Mãe Jaciara, Josi Pataxó, Adriana Marmori, Nini Oliveira, Rosilane Lisboa, Lucinéia Durães (PT-BA), Débora (CONSEA) and Eliane Oliveira (MST).
Women in struggle are uniting to confront the intertwining forms of violence: racism, patriarchy, capital, land concentration and the lack of land justice. Jazian Mota began the panel by emphasizing that patriarchy affects all women and, therefore, it is essential to build this collective and unitary space for struggle. The resistance of urban, rural, water and forest women is essential to confront the violence that has historically affected them.
Alidaí, from CUT, addressed the issue of the triple work shifts that women are subjected to and how this situation is worsened by the current precariousness of work.
Thifanny Conceição highlighted the importance of the encampment: “This space represents our bodies and our diversity of identity. Here we can come together, think and synthesize collective policies, allowing assertive proposals for us to emerge from here.”
Mãe Jaciara thanked them for the opportunity to sit at the table and brought the voice of the women of the terreiro, highlighting the conflicts that exist in traditional territories, especially those of African-based religion.
Josi Pataxó, representative of the indigenous peoples of Santa Cruz Cabrália and a teacher in her territory, expressed her anguish when reporting that, at that moment, her people were on the side of the road, going hungry and thirsty, due to the violent territorial expropriation promoted by pro-Bolsonaro groups under the banner of the “Zero Invasion” movement. In her words: “We are nothing without our territories. We do not produce, we do not harvest without our territories. My speech is not only for my people, but for all those who need their land.”
Saiane Santos, from the National Directorate of the Small Farmers Movement, emphasized the importance of the encampment to reaffirm the fight against feminicide and against the hunger that plagues the lives of women in the countryside and in the city.
Eliane Oliveira reinforced: “We are here at the 14th Women's Encampment in our defense, affirming that agribusiness is violence. We are here to resist.”
The analysis of the situation was conducted by Lucinha from the MST, state deputy, and Lucineia Durães, chief of staff of federal deputy Valmir Assunção, who brought reflections on international and national politics. They warned of the risks of Donald Trump's reelection, who has increased wars and conservatism. They also highlighted the influence of social networks managed by Elon Musk – current head of the Trump Administration's Department of Efficiency – as they have been used to disseminate speeches that promote the precariousness of work, “uberization” and the suppression of unions. They also stressed the need to continue defending democracy, since conservatism continues to be a threat to the well-being of the population. Conservative groups and agribusiness have been promoting misleading discourses about food inflation, and we must be aware of these strategies.
The first day of the 14th Encampment of Women from the Countryside and the City demonstrated the strength of a movement committed to social transformation, reaffirming that female resistance against capital is essential to building a more just and egalitarian world.
