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[POLITICS] · Brazil · 67 sources

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Brazil Supreme Court expands Maria da Penha Law protections

Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court (STF) has unanimously ruled to expand the scope of the Maria da Penha Law, extending protective measures to all forms of gender-based violence against women. Previously, the 2006 statute was restricted to domestic, family, or intimate partner contexts. The new ruling establishes that protection applies regardless of the setting, including community, professional, institutional, social, or political environments.

As part of this expansion, the court determined that the law must be applied during elections to combat gender-based political violence against candidates. In such cases, the Electoral Justice system will be responsible for granting protective measures. The decision carries general repercussion, meaning it is a binding precedent that must be followed by the entire Brazilian judiciary.

The ruling originated from a case in Minas Gerais where a woman was denied protection after being threatened by a neighbor, as the court had previously deemed there was no intimate relationship between them. The STF emphasized that the defining factor for these measures is the gender-based motivation of the violence, rather than the specific relationship or location of the incident.

Entities

Brazil · Cármen Lúcia · Edson Fachin · Flávio Dino · Lei Maria da Penha · Maria da Penha · Maria da Penha Law · Minas Gerais · Ministério Público de Minas Gerais · Supreme Federal Court · Supremo Tribunal Federal

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