Denise Pessôa

Denise da Silva Pessôa is a federal deputy for Rio Grande do Sul (PT) in the 2023–2027 legislature and was born on June 17, 1983 in Caxias do Sul (RS). She is an architect and urban planner with an MBA in Public Administration and City Management and a specialization in Strategic Management of Public Policies.

Political Career

She began her political career at a young age in the student movement and social movements, always focused on defending human rights, women's rights, and workers' rights. She was elected councilwoman of Caxias do Sul in 2008 , becoming the youngest woman elected in the city at the time, and was re-elected for four consecutive terms until 2022. In her last year as a councilwoman, she presided over the Caxias do Sul City Council and served on committees such as Human Rights, Participatory Legislation, and the Special Prosecutor's Office for Women, standing out for her advocacy of public policies and social equality.

In the institutional sphere, Denise Pessôa holds prominent positions in the National Congress and within the Workers' Party (PT). In her first term as a federal deputy (since February 2023), she was elected president of the Culture Committee of the House of Representatives , where she works to defend cultural policies and heritage, as well as discussing topics such as the National Culture Plan. She is also a member of other committees and works in parliamentary fronts related to women's rights, racial equality, and social inclusion. During her term, she leads initiatives such as the External Commission to Combat Femicides in Rio Grande do Sul and coordinates popular participation programs, such as "Participa Mais Mulher" (Participate More Women), which promotes listening and the collective formulation of legislative proposals aimed at protecting and advancing women's rights.

Performance in the House of Representatives

In her legislative work , Denise Pessôa has presented and defended a series of bills that reflect her political principles. Among these proposals are Bill 3664/2025 , which strengthens and consolidates the role of the Brazilian Women's Houses as permanent centers for assisting women experiencing violence; Bill 4574/2025 , which creates a digital platform for school-based psychological support ; and Bill 4368/2025 , which proposes the inclusion of gender-based violence prevention in school curricula . She has also presented several other initiatives on women's rights, women's health in later life, labor rights, and social guarantees, such as proposals to amend the Civil Code, the CLT (Consolidation of Labor Laws), the Statute of Persons with Disabilities, the Statute of Children and Adolescents, and inclusion policies in the National Employment System. As rapporteur, Denise Pessôa approved opinions in committees, including one for Bill 111/2024 and on a matter recognizing cultural titles, reinforcing her active role in the legislative process.