STF lifts restrictions on women in PM contests in two states

In response to two actions proposed by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), the Federal Supreme Court (STF) decided to invalidate rules that restricted the participation of women in Military Police (PM) competitions in the states of Amazonas and Ceará. The two STF decisions were unanimous. The trial took place in the Virtual Plenary.

The rules overturned by the Court allocated 10% of places in the Amazonas competition and 15% in Ceará to women. Now, women will compete with men for all vacancies offered.

The actions were proposed by the then Attorney General of the Republic (PGR), Elizeta Ramos, in October last year.

According to Ramos, “the norms could, at first glance, be interpreted as an affirmative action to promote women’s access to public positions”, however, “state norms support a restriction on female participation”.

For the former PGR, the rules promoted discrimination based on sex and were in disagreement with the Federal Constitution.

“The right of access to public positions in the corporation must be guaranteed equally for men and women, under equal conditions, without any prejudice and discrimination, so that it is possible for all existing vacancies in the aforementioned corporation to be accessible to women, if they come. to be approved and classified, competing on equal terms with men”, says an excerpt from the action proposed by the MPF.

In November last year, the STF minister, Dias Toffoli, suspended the competition for officers and enlisted men of the Military Police of Pará due to the restriction of 20% of the total number of vacancies for women. The decision also took place within the scope of an action proposed by the PGR.

In January 2024, Minister Cármen Lúcia suspended the public competition for the selection of officers and enlisted personnel of the Santa Catarina Military Police (PMSC), also due to the allocation of 20% of vacancies to women.