Survivor reports humiliation before the Maria da Penha Law: 'from victim to defendant' Attacks, humiliation and silencing were faced by teacher and psychologist Daniela Cristina Nunes. She lived a reality marked by domestic violence at a time when there was no specific legislation to protect women, before the Maria da Penha Law. ? Follow g1 São Carlos and Araraquara on Instagram Her story shows how victims were silenced, discredited and often blamed for the attacks they suffered. When trying to report, she recalls that complaints were received at common tables at police stations, without privacy, and victims were questioned and discredited. "I was undeserved, I think I went from victim to defendant, which is like a seductress. I heard questions like 'but was that really it', 'what did you do to provoke it?', she said. EPTV, an affiliate of TV Globo, airs the special series "Dona Penha" between the 3rd and 14th of August, which recalls the trajectory of the activist who inspired the creation of the Maria da Penha Law. With 11 episodes, shown from Monday to Friday, the production marks 20 years of legislation, considered a milestone in the fight against domestic and family violence against women in Brazil. Professor and psychologist Daniela Cristina Nunes recalls violence suffered before the Maria da Penha Law EPTV/Reproduction More news from the region: HELP: Violence against women: see DDMs and other places to seek help in cities in the interior of SP 'Dona Penha': understand types of violence against women and how the Maria da Penha Law has strengthened in 20 years SURVEY: Cities in the interior of SP have more than 12 thousand protective measures in 2 years and a half; find out how to ask for Violence and fear The marks of violence remain vivid in our memories. She remembers having her head banged against a coffee table, suffering punches and kicks and a pregnancy resulting from the abuse. Later, she was beaten again and lost a child she was already expecting. "Sometimes I was attacked in the middle of the street, with several blows and punches. It was another beating, there were other procedures, then unfortunately this son who would be mine, because I had already accepted that he was mine, was interrupted. His life went on and I had to fight to continue it", he said. Daniela also faced pressure to terminate a pregnancy, including from the attacker's family. Their autonomy over their own bodies was denied, reinforcing the sexual and reproductive violence that many women suffer. "I was coerced countless times to terminate the pregnancy, even by his family members," she said. In addition to physical attacks, he suffered social humiliation. In friendship circles, she heard that she was not “worthy” of being there, as if she had lost value because she had been raped. "They said I was no longer an example," he recalled. The feeling was one of helplessness and constant fear. Guilt and shame accompanied her, and paralyzed her to the point of preventing her from seeking help. "In a situation where you see that the person (police officer) doesn't give you credibility, it didn't do any good, so tomorrow on the street I'm going to be attacked again. And nothing happened to him, he remained there in oblivion", he said. Daniela Cristina Nunes reported moments of great fear and helplessness in the face of the violence she was a victim of EPTV/Reproduction Before the Maria da Penha Law Daniela highlighted that all of this happened before the Maria da Penha Law. At that time, practices such as beating a partner could be resolved by paying a basic food basket, with no real consequences for the aggressor. Wânia Pasinato, senior advisor on violence against women at the United Nations (UN). highlighted that domestic violence was treated until the 1980s as a private problem for the couple. "They received the institutional response that they should go home, prepare dinner, calm their husband so that this wouldn't happen. Until the 1980s, we mainly had homicides considered crimes of self-defense of honor", said Wânia Wânia Pasinato, senior advisor on violence against women at the United Nations (UN). EPTV/Reproduction The impact of the Maria da Penha Law Daniela recognizes that her trajectory would have been different if the law had already existed in her time. Today, his voice echoes as testimony to the importance of legislation and the need for its full implementation. "It would have been different with the law prevailing," he said. Lawyer Carla Missurino recalls that when the law was enacted in 2006, only physical aggression, attempted death, and the death of women were considered violence. In 20 years, there have been several legal changes, including psychological violence as a crime. Today, protective measures also apply to siblings, parents, children, among other family members. The Maria da Penha Law, sanctioned in 2006, changed this scenario by recognizing different forms of violence, physical, psychological, moral, patrimonial and sexual, by creating mechanisms and protective measures to remove the aggressor. REVIEW VIDEOS FROM EPTV CENTRAL: See more news from the region on g1 São Carlos and Araraquara