54% of women say they have suffered violence from a partner, says research

Research carried out by the Patrícia Galvão Institute and the Locomotiva Institute shows that 54% of Brazilian women claim to have experienced some situation of violence committed by a partner or ex-partner. The number is equivalent to 47.7 million Brazilian women who declare that they have already suffered physical, sexual, psychological, moral or property violence.

The main type of violence faced is psychological, according to the survey. According to the survey, 42% of women say they have faced psychological violence, 25% say they have been victims of physical violence, 19% say they have experienced moral violence, 10% sexual violence and 9% property violence. According to Vieira, executive director of the Patrícia Galvão Institute, professionals in the justice and public security systems need training to understand all types of violence, even those that leave no apparent mark.

A survey shows that 7% of men say they have committed violence against a partner or ex-partner. When asked whether they have already committed specific violence, such as physical, sexual, psychological, moral or property violence, the number rises to 11%. According to the research, they do not detail the forms of violence, but try to justify them. "This demonstrates that men do not have knowledge and information about violence, they do not recognize this violence", says Vera Vieira.

"I was led to do this, I was humiliated in public, at home. That's why I attacked. I don't like violence, but I was encouraged to do it," said one of the study's interviewees.

A study showed that for 88% of women, partners or ex-partners are the main perpetrators of aggression. Research interviewed a thousand women and 500 men aged 16 or over. The margin of error is 2.8 percentage points. The survey was carried out between April 22nd and 30th this year.

Seven in ten women (70%) would call the police or contact the authorities when they witness an assaulted woman. The research also shows that 11% of women would seek help from other people, 9% would try to intervene directly without the use of force, 7% would use force if necessary and 1% would do nothing.

In the case of men, 56% say they would call the police or authorities, says the study. The second main reaction is to try to intervene directly (19%) without the use of force, then 15% of men would intervene using force if necessary, 4% would seek help from other people and 3% would do nothing justifying that they "should not intervene".

Research showed that the women's police station is the best-known support channel among Brazilian women. Spaces are mentioned by three out of four women. Next, the Ligue 180 - Women's Service Center and Ligue 190 services are known to more than half of Brazilian women. Social assistance services, specialized courts and Casa da Mulher Brasileira are less known.

Fear of reporting is the main obstacle in combating domestic violence. According to the survey, 68% of women are afraid to report for fear of suffering reprisals, 56% fear impunity or lack of punishment for aggressors and 39% cite the slowness of justice processes as an obstacle.

Knowledge about legislation that protects women is widespread among Brazilians. Among men, 48% say they know the Maria da Penha Law well, and among women the rate is 49%. Furthermore, the study shows that the law is spontaneously described by the majority of Brazilian women as aimed at protecting women.

Law enforcement falls short of expectations. The study shows that 80% of women believe that the Maria da Penha Law does not work as it should, and 82% consider it insufficient to combat violence against women. Furthermore, only 41% of Brazilian women agree that the security forces are prepared to adequately assist women who are victims of any type of violence.

The Maria da Penha Law was enacted with the aim of curbing and preventing domestic and family violence. Created in 2006, the legislation pays homage to pharmacist Maria da Penha, who survived two murder attempts by her husband. The legal framework will complete 20 years this year, it was sanctioned on August 7, 2006 and came into force on September 22, 2006.