Brazil's Lei Maria da Penha marks 20 years as protective orders hit record

Lei Maria da Penha protective orders femicide 20-year anniversary Brazil

The Lei Maria da Penha, Brazil's landmark law against domestic and family violence, celebrated its 20th anniversary in August 2026. The law, enacted on 7 August 2006, has expanded its scope to include violence vicária and protections for same‑sex couples and trans women. In the first half of 2026 the National Justice Council recorded a historic 336,630 protective measures – a 61 % rise over 2022 – equivalent to two women seeking protection each minute, and 89 % of requests were granted. Despite these gains, femicide remains a grave problem, with 1,571 women murdered in 2025, the highest figure in the series. Judges, magistrates and officials across Brazil highlighted that cultural change remains the biggest challenge. The anniversary spurred nationwide actions: municipal guard training in Rio de Janeiro added 41 new agents to the Ronda Maria da Penha; the city of Manaus hosted a “Caminhada da Vida” march with over 500 participants; the state of Piauí announced plans to expand its protection network; and the football club Palmeiras issued a public statement condemning violence against women. Health professionals, NGOs and local governments also ran campaigns such as “Agosto Lilás” and “Samáforo Delas” to raise awareness and promote reporting channels.

Entities: Ana Graziela Vaz de Campos Alves Corrêa · Brazil · Dourados · Juliana Brandão · Lei Maria da Penha · Palmeiras · Paula Lima · Paulo Dantas · Rafael Fonteles · TJBA Zela · Yasmin Curzi

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[○ 1 SOURCE] 8.8 % of women murdered in 2025 had an active protective order at the time of the crime. (0dd5f133-2427-46a7-a8cf-5034cc23897a)
[● 3 SOURCES] Magistrates say cultural change is the biggest challenge to ending violence against women. (17907764-47c1-491a-a984-17d1ba5dc988)
[○ 1 SOURCE] 336,630 protective measures were granted in the first half of 2026, a 61 % increase over 2022. (National Justice Council data)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Brazil recorded 1,571 femicides in 2025, the highest number in its series. (FBSP data)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Two women request protective measures per minute in Brazil in 2026. (CNJ study)
[○ 1 SOURCE] 89 % of protective order requests resulted in favorable decisions in 2026. (CNJ study)
[● 4 SOURCES] The Lei Maria da Penha turned 20 years old in 2026. (Various 2026 coverage)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Dourados launched the Sistema de Monitoramento e Acolhimento (Soma) project to protect women victims of domestic violence. (Municipal announcement 2026)
[● 3 SOURCES] The Lei Maria da Penha was enacted on 7 August 2006. (legislative enactment)
[● 3 SOURCES] In 2026, the Lei Maria da Penha incorporated violence vicária into its scope. (law amendment)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Palmeiras publicly supported the anti‑violence campaign on the 20th anniversary of the Lei Maria da Penha. (club statement)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Rio de Janeiro Municipal Guard trained 41 new agents for the Ronda Maria da Penha, which now has 79 guards and has assisted over 20,000 women with no femicide among them. (municipal report)