Maria Ivete Boulos, a prominent infectious disease specialist and the mother of Brazilian minister Guilherme Boulos, is participating in a new documentary series titled "Estopim" which focuses on gender violence in Brazil. The series is set to premiere on March 8, coinciding with International Women's Day, and aims to raise awareness about the alarming rates of sexual violence reported in the country. In her statements during the series, Maria Ivete highlights the worrying trend of young women in their twenties and thirties recounting their experiences of sexual abuse that began in childhood, often being silenced for many years.

The documentary is directed by Ana Teixeira and consists of five episodes, each tackling different forms of violence, such as political, conjugal, sexual, and hate crimes, as well as those that remain invisible in society. Maria Ivete cites data from the Brazilian Institute of Applied Economic Research (Ipea), drawing attention to statistics from 2023 indicating that over 85% of sexual violence victims are women, with 74% of those incidents involving girls aged 14 and younger. This stark data sheds light on the critical need for societal change and more robust institutional responses to combat gender-based violence.

As the series unfolds daily until March 12, it aims to engage viewers in discussions about how various forms of violence manifest and how they are perceived and treated by society and its institutions. By revisiting notable cases of violence and abuse, "Estopim" seeks to not only educate the public but also provoke essential conversations about gender rights and the systemic failures in protecting vulnerable populations in Brazil.