Violence against women: how to ask for help Created to bring together in one place the main care services for women victims of violence, the Casa da Mulher Brasileira never got off the ground in Manaus. Although federal funds were received and construction began, the building remains unfinished and abandoned, while women continue to visit different agencies in search of shelter, protection and justice. The difficulty is reported by a woman who reported the attacker in 2022. The suspect was arrested, but is currently free. Since then, according to her, the threats and the feeling of persecution have never stopped. "It's constant. Whenever we go out, we look everywhere. It seems like there's always someone watching. Today I practically don't leave the house. I only go out for medical appointments or to resolve issues related to the process", he said, without identifying himself. ? Join the g1 AM channel on WhatsApp She states that the violence started to occur mainly in a psychological way and that her ex-partner tries to reach her through her daughters. "In my case, today the violence is more psychological. He tries to target my daughters to get to me. He follows them around, monitoring where they go. There has even been a kidnapping, when he managed to take my daughter and abuse her. Now, the persecution continues", he reported. In addition to the trauma, the victim says she faced difficulties accessing the protection network as she needed to move between different public agencies. "I had a lot of expenses. Sometimes it was R$50 to go and R$50 to come back. Those who live on Bolsa Família can't afford that. I needed to go to the IML, back to the police station, then to Creas, to Cream. If all these services were gathered in one place, it would have been much easier. We would have suffered much less", he stated. The Casa da Mulher Brasileira was created precisely to centralize services such as a specialized police station, Public Defender's Office, Public Ministry, Judiciary, psychosocial care, social assistance and protective measures, reducing the need for travel and the revictimization of women. In Manaus, work began after Amazonas received federal funding in 2014. However, construction was interrupted and, more than a decade later, the building remains unopened. Experts point to losses For the president of the Commission for Women Lawyers at OAB Amazonas, Omara Gusmão, concentrating services in a single space makes public policy more efficient and reduces barriers for those seeking help. "The woman arrives already weakened. If she finds all the services concentrated in one place, there will be a reduction in time, misinformation and a more integrated service. She may need legal guidance, social assistance, temporary shelter and protective measures. Doing all this in different locations increases the suffering even more", he stated. Lawyer Alessandrine Silva highlights that the absence of an integrated space also favors revictimization. “When the space is not designed to protect women, they end up being forced to report the violence they suffered several times. Having the Casa da Mulher Brasileira would be fundamental to guarantee continuous service and more comprehensive protection", he said. Illustrative image of a woman victim of violence. Geovana Albuquerque/Agência Brasília Cases of violence increase While the work remains at a standstill, records of violence against women remain high in Amazonas. Data from the Amazonas Public Security Secretariat (SSP-AM) show that, between January and May 2026, cases of bodily injury increased by 22.3% compared to the same period of 2025, going from 2,119 to 2,591 occurrences. Threat records increased by 6%, from 4,353 to 4,614 cases, and insults increased by 4.2%, from 4,112 to 4,286. Persecution cases decreased by 7.2%, falling from 1,575 to 1,461 occurrences. in accessing services can represent an even greater risk for women in situations of violence. “Time can mean a life that can be taken. One of the greatest importance of the Casa da Mulher Brasileira is precisely to reduce this time to avoid death or even more serious violence", he stated. Alessandrine Silva also argues that the equipment can contribute to interrupting cases of extreme violence. "Having the Casa da Mulher Brasileira could enable us to interrupt fatal violence against these women and offer a place where they are truly welcomed", he said. What governments say In a statement, the State Secretariat for Justice, Human Rights and Citizenship (Sejusc) informed that the company responsible for the work was punished for breach of contract, with suspension of the right to contract with the public administration for two years, in addition to the imposition of a fine and obligation to reimburse the treasury. The secretariat also informed that it made the technical adjustments required by Caixa Econômica Federal and is awaiting authorization from the institution to open a new tender and resume construction. Manaus continues to be carried out by the Women's Emergency Support Services (Sapem), the State Reference and Support Center for Women (Cream) and the Casa Abrigo Antônia Nascimento Priante. In the interior, the network has nine specialized care units. According to the ministry, the federal investment in the unit is R$10 million, within a contract signed with Caixa Econômica Federal in 2020, with a counterpart of R$7.5 million from the Government of Amazonas. So far, R$2 million has been released, as the work progresses, and the rest will be transferred as new stages are carried out. Until construction is resumed, the building remains empty. For women who depend on the protection network, the Casa da Mulher Brasileira remains a promise that is still far away. "I know many women who are afraid to report it. Even people in my own family experience violence and don't seek help because they know they will need to go from one place to another. Often we are not welcomed and end up discouraged", reported the victim.