These are shocking testimonies, which continue to impress us in the 21st century and which are part of the daily lives of women throughout Brazil. Situations that progress and surpass cruel levels of violence, reaching murders.
Per Aladilce Souza Nurse – from Brasilia
“I couldn’t wear lipstick, I couldn’t cut my hair and I was still beaten. And when I managed to separate, he didn’t agree to pay our children’s pension, I had to go to court.” This is just one of the many testimonies I witness every day during the meetings and debates I participate in to provide guidance and discuss violence against women in different areas of our society.
These are shocking testimonies, which continue to impress us in the 21st century and which are part of the daily lives of women throughout Brazil. Situations that progress and surpass cruel levels of violence, reaching murders. As shown by the latest research from the Elas Vivem bulletin, from the Security Observatory network, which shows that every 15 hours a woman is a victim of feminicide in Brazil by partners and ex-partners.
Another survey, by the Brazilian Public Security Forum, showed that 1,463 women were victims of femicide in Brazil in 2023, the highest rate since the crime was classified in 2015. There was also a 14.9% increase in cases of rape against girls and women, reaching 34 thousand cases. Number that corresponds to one occurrence every eight minutes.
Black women
Here it is worth drawing attention to the situation of black women. They, who already live with racism in different areas of society, whether institutional or social, are the biggest victims when it comes to violence and represent 67.4% of deaths due to femicide in the country, according to IPEA research.
In addition to physical violence, we need to discuss the psychological damage that affects the lives of women victims of violence, which are causes of illness and interfere with their lives as a whole, even damaging social, emotional and professional relationships.
Brazil made progress by creating the Maria da Penha Law in 2006 and the Feminicide Law in 2015, with strict punishments for criminals; with the creation of Casas da Mulher Brasileira, like the one opened in Salvador in 2023, but we still need to achieve other guarantees that contribute to our safety.
And we cannot forget that among them is the awareness of men and society in general to change attitudes towards women. We need to abandon the idea that women are inferior to men and that men have power over their bodies and their lives. We need to build relationships of respect, equality, solidarity and true love between people. Only in this way will we be combating violence against women at its roots.
Aladilce Souza Nurse, She is a professor at UFBa and a former councilor of Salvador.
The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Brazil Post
