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[POLITICS] · Brazil · 17 sources

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STF expands Maria da Penha Law to all gender-based violence FAST-MOVING

The Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF) has unanimously decided to expand the scope of the Maria da Penha Law, which was established in 2006 to combat violence against women. The ruling dictates that urgent protective measures can now be applied to all forms of gender-based violence, regardless of whether the aggressor and victim share a domestic, family, or intimate relationship.

This decision, which carries general repercussion and must be followed by all Brazilian courts, allows for protections in cases of stalking, harassment, and kidnapping, provided the violence is motivated by the victim's gender. Furthermore, the Court established that the law will apply to combat gender-based political violence against candidates during elections, with the Electoral Justice system responsible for granting such measures.

The ruling follows a case from Minas Gerais where a woman was threatened by a neighbor. The STF overturned a lower court decision that had denied protective measures because no domestic or affective bond existed between the parties. Minister Edson Fachin, the rapporteur, emphasized that gender violence is a structural phenomenon and that protection must cover any interaction where violence is founded on gender.

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Brazil · Edson Fachin · Lei Maria da Penha · Maria da Penha Law · Ministério Público de Minas Gerais · Supremo Tribunal Federal

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