Brazil enacts law establishing integrated violence response protocol

Brazil has enacted Law 15.516/2026, establishing an Intersectoral Protocol for Integrated Response in Situations of Violence. The law provides standardized procedures for assisting victims of rape and other forms of physical violence, specifically targeting women, children, adolescents, and vulnerable individuals.

Under the new regulations, if a victim's first contact is with public security officials, they must be immediately referred to a public health unit. The protocol mandates immediate medical attention, including clinical and emotional assessments, as well as the provision of necessary prophylactic and therapeutic measures. Victims are also entitled to clear information regarding their rights to specialized medical, psychological, and social assistance.

The legislation emphasizes the preservation of evidence for medical-legal examinations. Materials collected at health units must be forwarded to official criminal forensic bodies. The law also grants maximum priority for forensic examinations; if a victim is unable to attend in person, forensic experts must travel to their location. Forensic reports must be completed and sent to authorities within ten days, subject to extensions under the Code of Criminal Procedure.