STM President advocates common justice for domestic violence cases

Maria Elizabeth Rocha, president of the Superior Military Court (STM), has advocated for domestic violence cases involving federal military personnel to be tried in common justice courts rather than military courts.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Rio de Janeiro section of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) to mark 20 years of the Maria da Penha Law, Rocha argued that specialized domestic violence courts provide protections unavailable in the military justice system. She noted that because the military court is primarily a criminal forum, it lacks the capacity to apply certain civil protective measures that are essential for victims.

Rocha emphasized that being a member of the Armed Forces does not exempt women from the risk of domestic aggression. The event also included the launch of several books focused on human rights and the legal evolution of protections for women in Brazil.