Brazil strengthens women’s protection measures following recent femicide

In Guarantã do Norte, Mato Grosso, 37‑year‑old Gleici Fátima Machado Ritter was shot dead on June 23, a crime investigators classified as femicide. The prime suspect, her 33‑year‑old partner, had a history of domestic abuse and previously benefited from a revoked protective order. State gender‑violence chief Mariell Antonini emphasized the importance of maintaining protective measures and seeking help from the justice system.

At the federal level, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a package of initiatives to broaden protection for women. The measures create a National Registry of Aggressors, reinforce protective orders, expand mechanisms to remove perpetrators, and increase penalties. They complement the National Pact against femicide and the Operation Mulher Segura, which recently recorded 630 arrests and assisted over 2,000 women. Official data show a modest decline in femicide cases, but hundreds of women continue to be killed each year.