Brazil's Lei Maria da Penha marks 20 years amid rising femicide rates

The federal Lei Maria da Penha, Brazil's landmark law against domestic violence, turned 20 on 7 August 2006. Events across the country commemorated the anniversary. At the Federal University of Uberlândia, Deputy Gabriela Damasceno delivered a lecture on combating, preventing and investigating violence against women. The Superior Tribunal de Justiça hosted the launch of a collective volume titled “Lei Maria da Penha – Homenagem aos 20 anos da Lei 11.340/2006,” coordinated by Reynaldo Soares da Fonseca and contributions from jurists and scholars.

In Bahia, the first half of 2026 recorded 51 femicides, placing the state fourth nationwide, with a total of 741 female victims country‑wide – an average of four deaths per day. The Ministry of Public Prosecution reported 27,916 protective measure requests and over 10,000 domestic‑violence complaints. Lawyer Samantha Moreira Batista noted, “A legislação tornou visíveis agressões que, durante muito tempo, foram tratadas como problemas particulares do casal.”

The Public Ministry of Santa Catarina recommended that schools in Chapecó incorporate permanent educational activities on gender‑based violence, citing the law’s article 8 provisions. A 2026 amendment (Law 15.383) introduced electronic monitoring of aggressors as an autonomous protective measure, allowing victims to receive alerts when a perpetrator approaches.