Maria da Penha, a vítima da violência doméstica que virou lei

Lei Maria da Penha acaba com a impunidade e possibilita que agressores sejam presos em flagrante ou tenham prisão preventiva decretada

Lei Maria da Penha acaba com a impunidade e possibilita que agressores sejam presos em flagrante ou tenham prisão preventiva decretada / Foto: Marcelo Casal/ABr Em 1983, a biofarmacêutica cearense Maria da Penha Maia Fernandes sofreu duas tentativas de homicídio, ambas praticadas pelo marido. Ficou paraplégica e iniciou uma luta sem trégua pela punição ao agressor, que só iria a julgamento 19 anos depois. O marido cumpriu apenas dois anos de prisão e ganhou a liberdade. Maria da Penha segue na luta pelo fim da violência contra as mulheres. Luta esta que conquistou um poderoso reforço no Governo Lula: a Lei Maria da Penha, sancionada em 2006.

Entre outros avanços, a Lei Maria da Penha possibilita que agressores de mulheres em âmbito doméstico ou familiar sejam presos em flagrante ou tenham a prisão preventiva decretada. A legislação aumenta o tempo máximo de detenção previsto de um para três anos, prevê medidas que vão desde a remoção do agressor do domicílio à proibição de sua aproximação da mulher agredida e dispõe sobre a criação dos Juizados de Violência Doméstica e Familiar contra a Mulher.

Com a Lei Maria da Penha, a violência doméstica deixou de ser tratada como algo banal, que podia ser reparada com o pagamento de cesta básica ou multa. Além da violência física e sexual, a legislação engloba também a violência psicológica, a violência patrimonial e o assédio moral.

Program integrates strategies to reduce the murders of women

A law alone cannot end domestic violence, which remains a serious problem in Brazil. Therefore, the Women’s Policy Office understands the ongoing need to improve policies, programs and awareness campaigns that encourage the reporting of incidents of violence against women; empower women; and establish gender equality.

According to Brazil’s Applied Economic Research Institute (IPEA), it is estimated that between 2001 and 2011 almost 50,000 women were killed as a result of gender conflicts, usually by a partner or former partner.

To address this situation, in late 2013, the federal government launched the Women: Living Without Violence program. The initiative, which has received R$ 265 million in funding as of the close of 2014, integrates several strategies, such as the toll-free, nationwide hotline (Dial 180); coordination of services focused on the collection of evidence related to sexual crimes; the Service Center for Women Living in Brazil’s Border Regions; ongoing awareness campaigns; mobile units for women living in at-risk situations in rural areas, forest regions, and riverside communities; and opening of the Brazilian Women’s House, a federal initiative that umbrellas several public services for women.

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A space dedicated to breaking the vicious cycle of domestic violence

Casa da Mulher Brasileira terá delegacias especializada, juizados e varas, defensorias, promotorias e equipe psicossocial (psicólogas, assistentes sociais e educadoras) In a partnership between the federal government, and the nation’s states and municipalities, the Brazilian Women’s House is establishing specialized police stations and courts, as well as providing public defenders, prosecutors and psychosocial personnel (psychologists, social workers, sociologists, and educators who will assist women in identifying their life prospects and provide ongoing monitoring) and counselors who can offer guidance on employment and income issues. ).

The overriding aim of the Brazilian Women’s House is to welcome, support and free women who are caught up in the vicious cycle of domestic violence. Land for the construction of these Houses – in all of Brazil’s 26 states and its federal district – has already been acquired by the Women’s Policy Office and the tendering process for the construction of physical structures was completed by the end of 2014.

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An increasing number of women are reporting first episodes of violence

In the eight years since it was introduced, the toll-free, Dial 180 hotline received 3.6 million calls. In 2013 alone, there were 532,711 calls, which resulted in 106,860 referrals to the service network. A positive development is the fact that, between 2012 and 2013, the number of women who chose to report a first incident of violence rose 20%.

Statistics reveal that the perpetrators of these attacks are, in 81% of reported cases, people who have or have had emotional ties to the victims. In 62% of cases, violence is committed by partners, spouses, or boyfriends of the victims. The reports from 19% of victims implicated the perpetrators of the attacks they suffered as having been former partners, ex-husbands, and ex-boyfriends.

Fonte: Central de Atendimento à Mulher – Ligue 180/SPM

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New Dial 180 hotline ensures immediate action by the police

With the new, toll-free Dial 180 hotline while it is providing initial information and guidance to victims, it is also initiating investigations into complaints. Photo: José Cruz/ABr In March 2014, the Women’s Policy Office transformed Dial 180 into a hotline. In its new incarnation, complaints received are forwarded to Public Security agencies and the public prosecutors of each state and the federal district, which speeds up the resolution cases.

In its new formation, Dial 180 complaints trigger immediate action from military police across the country, in the same manner that it has already occurred in situations involving the trafficking of women and forced confinement. In cases classified as urgent, direct referrals are made to Mobile Emergency Service Units (SAMUs).

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Mobile app is a new weapon against violence

Aplicativo detalha a Lei Maria da Penha e tem ferramenta colaborativa que, alimentada com informações das próprias usuárias, permite mapear locais que oferecem risco às mulheres, em cada cidade An application that explains and details the specifics of the Maria da Penha Law also includes a collaborative tool that collects information from its users, which allows for the development of site mapping that can reveal areas in each city where women are more at risk.

Victims and witnesses of violence against women can now report it via the Click 180 mobile app. Launched in May 2014, the app was developed by UN Women, in partnership with Brazil’s Women’s Policy Office and support from the British Embassy.
In addition to direct access to the Women’s Assistance Hotline (Dial 180), the app offers detailed information about the Maria da Penha Law, with explanations of each type of violence to which women might be exposed and suggests the nearest locations where women can seek assistance.

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Mobile units go where victims are

One of the main problems that rural women face is their difficulty in accessing public services. Accordingly, Brazil’s Women’s Policy Office has provided each specialized unit throughout the nation with fully-equipped, complete with multidisciplinary teams trained to listen to the complaints of women and offer them emergency and primary care services.

The 54 mobile units (two for each state and the federal district) offer their services to the most remote areas of urban centers, including prevention, assistance, research, investigation, and access to the legal system. They can also host presentations and offer clarifications about the Maria da Penha Law. As part of the Women: Living Without Violence program, during the first six months of this initiative, these units made approximately 1,000 service visits.

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