University of São Paulo Advocates Structural Transformation to Combat Violence Against Women

Around 50,000 women suffered some type of violence every day in 2022. This information is from the research Visible and Invisible: The Victimization of Women in Brazil , commissioned by the Brazilian Public Security Forum (FBSP), a non-profit organization (NGO). ) which annually collects data on cases of violence in the country. Since 1985, with the founding of the Women’s Defense Police Station, Brazil has been increasingly implementing public policies and laws to protect victims of violence. However, if the country is equipped with so many tools to support victims, why do figures on violence against women remain so high? 

The report 

The research commissioned by the Brazilian Public Security Forum presents high numbers because it concerns victimization research. In this type of report, countless women are questioned about having suffered some type of violence, without necessarily having filed a police report. In this way, as explained by Giane Silvestre, researcher at the Center for Violence Studies (NEV) at USP, these data are more faithful to reality. 

The research carried out by the Brazilian Public Security Yearbook and the Violence Monitor, for example, prepares its data after collecting records made at police stations. As many victims of violence do not report their attackers, the numbers recorded by these indicators and the numbers analyzed by the forum are not the same. 

Brazilian scenario 

The existing public policies to ensure the protection of victims of violence are a consequence of a violent society against women, as explained by Heloísa Buarque de Almeida, professor in the Department of Anthropology at the Faculty of Philosophy, Letters and Human Sciences (FFLCH) at USP. These measures, for example, came after feminist struggles that sought to protect victims of domestic violence. “We need to remember that any of these policies are already the result of a very serious situation of domestic violence”, points out Heloísa. 

The creation of new laws and the implementation of public policies do not begin to take effect as soon as they are applied. This happens, among a few reasons, due to the delay that society takes to recognize them. When a new measure is implemented, sometimes women victims of violence only know about the previous measure, which is why it takes a long time for them to appeal. In addition to this case, Heloísa explains that it takes time for both the legal apparatus, the police system, the Judiciary and legal operators – such as lawyers, judges and public prosecutors – to fully incorporate the new legislative proposals. 

According to Mariângela Gama Magalhães, professor at the Faculty of Law (FD) at USP, current protective measures and laws have positive effects in protecting women victims of violence. However, the problem lies in its supervision by the State, which does not have devices available 24 hours a day. 

In the case of police stations, public prosecutors and civil guards, the teacher also believes in their efficiency; however, these devices are insufficient to meet the demands of women who are in situations of danger. “It is also important to emphasize that these channels are not necessarily made up of people qualified to deal with this type of complaint. Violence against women has very specific characteristics and is different from urban violence, and these elements require different treatment from the authorities”, she explains. 

Violence: a multifaceted phenomenon 

Historically, Brazil presents itself as a violent and sexist country. Currently, feminist movements are gaining more and more space and visibility in society; however, it was also possible to observe the rise of conservative groups in recent years. “These movements defend gender inequality in social relations, naturalize women’s submission and domestic violence, as a form of male domination and superiority in relation to women”, explains Giane. 

According to the researcher, one of the reasons for the rise of this discourse was the construction of an environment conducive to this topic in public debate. “Authority figures emanate misogynistic opinions, misogynistic speeches, which even encourage gender-based violence. In fact, you create an environment in public debate that encourages the rise of misogynistic movements and discourses.” 

During the last government, there was a systematic cut in the budget aimed at policies to combat violence against women. In the last year of Jair Bolsonaro’s term, as Giane explains, the cut was around 90%. “Public policy cannot be created without funding, and this cut makes any type of action unfeasible.” This cut was directed, above all, to the Casa da Mulher Brasileira , which are care centers for women who are victims of violence. Furthermore, during this period, access to firearms was also facilitated, which is the instrument most used in cases of femicide, in addition to being a constant threat mechanism. 

Possible solutions 

Simply creating and implementing punitive measures to combat violence against women is not enough. Experts believe that social transformations are also necessary. Heloísa comments that it is necessary to talk about gender and class inequality in schools. “It is often in childhood that boys learn to be violent […]. When someone comes to a boy and says ‘boys don’t cry’, we teach the boy; ‘but you can hit, don’t cry anymore, hit and react, go and hit the guy who hit you, hit back’. What are you teaching young men? That they cannot cry, that they cannot be weak, but that they are allowed to use violence.” Therefore, it is necessary to deconstruct this type of teaching and show boys how to deal with their feelings without acting aggressively. 

Mariângela recognizes that this type of change is difficult and requires patience. However, it seems to be the only truly effective way to achieve a change in society’s values. “It seems to me that the most effective path is through both formal education, in schools, and education through the media, through social contact. […] Hitting the same buttons, insisting on punitive legislation, increasing the sentence, for example, are responses that apparently, at first, seem sufficient, but we will see that this is not enough. We need to change the base, we need to change children’s education.” 

Finally, Giane believes that, in addition to being necessary to promote equal education in relation to gender, it is also necessary to restructure current policies, so that there is, at least, a reduction in cases of violence against women. Since the change of government, the reporting channels and the budget aimed at these government measures have been undergoing structuring. The effects of this change, however, will take time and will only be observed next year, in the next research carried out on the topic. 

Furthermore, there needs to be investment in policies to prevent and welcome women victims of violence and greater oversight of existing measures. “There needs to be an intersectoral effort, not only from the area of ​​protection policy for women, but also from all public security operators, to also understand violence against women as a public policy problem, as a security problem public problem to be faced, and not a domestic problem as was thought for a long time in Brazil.”