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Maria da Penha hopes that the government will come out of the 'darkness'

Feminist defends the implementation of more public policies and fears the effects of making gun ownership more flexible

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The pharmaceutical company Maria da Penha Maia Fernandes is synonymous with the fight undertaken by women against violence. The law that bears her name became a safeguard for a considerable number of Brazilian women.

But, despite having come into force almost 13 years ago, the legal instrument has not been enough to stop barbarism. Research reveals an increase in the number of cases of aggression against women in all regions of the country, whatever the type – from domestic violence to feminicide.

Maria da Penha recognizes the growth, corroborated, among other research, by lifting carried out in the nine capitals of the Northeast by the Institute which bears his name. In the feminist's opinion, the most effective way to stop the multiplication of occurrences is the implementation of public policies that result in more Women's Reference Centers (CRM).

The pharmaceutical company participate tomorrow (8) in the event Future of Women in the World of Work, to be held at the Memorial da América Latina, in São Paulo, and which has Unicamp and the Public Ministry of Labor (MTP) among the organizers.

In the interview that follows, in addition to defending the implementation of more CRMs, police stations and shelters, Maria da Penha preaches investment in education as an antidote to machismo, analyzes the role of the Judiciary and the police and says she hopes for a redirection in the federal government's actions . “I don’t believe this darkness, this silence regarding the federal government’s involvement in combating domestic violence will last.”  

Photos: Chico Max
Photos by Chico Max that are part of the exhibition “Costurando Dignidade”


Jornal da Unicamp – What are your expectations regarding the event?

Maria da penha – I consider everything that is debated, with the public, about women’s daily lives to be important. This seems to me to be the perspective of the organizers. The debate will certainly be enriched with the diversity of opinions, clarifications and the dissemination of what each participant has to say.

We cannot ignore, however, that the main focus, what mistreats women the most, is psychological violence. If the woman lives happily, the issue of work is on another level. But, it's worth noting, this doesn't always happen.

In the domestic sphere, for example, Brazilian women are raised in the culture that they must rule their home, be responsible for the family, and always be present in caring for children, especially in small towns. This is the devaluation of the person. It’s cultural – my mother did it this way; the grandmother, ditto. This scheme is perpetuated, as is the case with domestic violence.


JU – To what extent?

Maria da penha - The grandfather practiced violence against his grandmother, and aggression was considered normal. The woman thought she deserved it because she imagined, in her submissive condition, that she had done something to be punished. Today's children and teenagers witnessed their grandfather hitting their grandmother, their father hitting their mother. This type of behavior has always been seen as a family thing, kept silent, and limited to that nucleus. And so, life goes on.

The Maria da Penha Law will be 13 years old and I really resent the lack of public policies. The mayors of small towns, for example, don't care.


JU – Is it the same thing in the case of exploitation in women’s work?

Maria da penha - Yes, it is a behavior that, as I said, comes from culture. I ask myself, I ask the Ministry of Education: why not implement recommendation number 4E, present in the report of the Inter-American Committee on Human Rights of the OAS [Organization of American States], in the judgment of my case? There needs to be commitment from public authorities.


JU – What does the article recommend?

Maria da penha - Investment in education to deconstruct machismo, through work to raise awareness among children and young people at all levels of education.

The child will be sensitized, through music, storytelling and some programs aimed at children, preparing the ground for the teacher to apply, in the classroom, teachings that prevent domestic violence. For this to happen, the Ministry of Education also needs to educate and train these teachers.


JU – How can the university contribute to changing this situation?

Maria da penha - The university has a very important role. The Maria da Penha Institute has developed, in Fortaleza and Recife, the free course “Defenders and Defenders of the Right to Citizenship”, which is carried out through a partnership with universities. The Institute provides teaching material, and students at any college receive free classes taught by professors from partner universities.

Students, depending on their field of activity, leave college with knowledge that allows them to identify sexist actions in society – victims of domestic violence if they are in the health field and law enforcement if they are in the legal field.

Students from all courses can enroll. Among other things, they learn how to recognize a woman who, out of fear or shame, tells the doctor, nurse, pharmacist or dentist an untrue story about her injuries when, in fact, she was a victim of domestic violence.

In this context, health professionals are very important, especially when they work in emergencies and health centers.


JU – Are there enough centers to meet the increase in demand?

Maria da penha - No, there are very few. May the importance of implementing public policies in all Brazilian municipalities reach the ears of those entitled to it. They are necessary so that the law that bears my name gets off the ground and is properly complied with.

They are: the Women's Reference Center [CRM], Casa Abrigo, the Women's Police Station and the Women's Court. I want to emphasize, above all, that small cities would have to have Women's Reference Centers within a health post, hospital or Social Assistance Reference Center [CRAS]. It would be of great help to families living in situations of domestic violence.

The Women's Reference Center is made up of three qualified professionals from the areas of Law, Social Work and Psychology. When they receive women who are victims of violence, these professionals warn them about the risks to which they are subject, guiding them on the path to be adopted.

The victim's situation obviously worsens if there is no precise and targeted information to make them realize that they need to take action, no matter how difficult it may be. Furthermore, it is the CRM that must be responsible for referring the victim to a Shelter in another municipality, on a confidential basis.

At Casa Abrigo this woman will be welcomed, with her minor children, and can be trained to carry out some activity that guarantees her subsistence. Children, in turn, will have the opportunity to attend school.  


JU – Despite the law, awareness campaigns and press coverage, violence against women has been increasing. What Mrs. attribute this growth?

Maria da penha - Indeed, it is increasing a lot, but I also realize that this has to do with the fact that the woman did not seek official help or because she believed and agreed to talk to the aggressor to discuss the relationship. As sexists do not accept losing that cause – they have to have control over the woman –, during encounters she can be the victim of greater violence.      

It is essential that she goes to the police station asking for a protective measure, reporting that she is at risk of death. A woman never suffers drastic violence – except in rare exceptions – in the first attempt at feminicide. There is a whole history. When she arrives at the police station, she has been suffering violence for a long time. It starts with psychological aggression and so on.

There is a lack of a stronger call – and the press has done its part – for women to report their attackers. If she suffers psychological or physical violence, she should contact the Reference Center in her city and tell her that she is at risk of death. If there is nothing in your municipality, you should call 180.


JU – Mrs. was a victim of the slowness of justice. Has this situation changed? What assessment can be made of the role of the Judiciary and the police in the context of violence against women?

Maria da penha - The biggest concern is when a woman reports it and the aggressor is not summoned quickly enough to satisfy and provide security for the victim. There are several justifications, starting with the allegation of an increase in complaints and that, as a result, delegates are unable to assist victims. There are delays in protective measures that should be requested by the judge.

I believe that the number of Women's Police Stations should be increased so that all cases can be processed more quickly. This is in the police sphere. I also think that police stations should be open at night, on holidays and weekends. We know this doesn't happen in most cities. The situation is dramatic.


JU – And in the judicial sphere?

Maria da penha - The resolution of some cases is faster. On the other hand, I am shocked by other incidents, especially when a woman requests a protective measure, but the release takes a long time. More commitment is needed from all professionals involved.

There was a recent case in which the judge gave a completely bizarre response: the woman was attacked and the attacker was arrested due to the protective measure requested. Shortly afterwards, the judge released him and, when questioned, the magistrate said that he could not have guessed that her ex-husband was going to commit the murder...

A judge who commits a serious error like this does not know the Maria da Penha Law. Chapter II, article 21, for example, says: “The offended party must be notified of the procedural deadlines relating to the aggressor, especially those relating to entry and exit from prison, etc., etc.” Women need to protect themselves, they cannot be vulnerable. It's the basics.  


JU – Members of the first echelon of the federal government, whether during the campaign or after taking office, have made hostile statements towards social, feminist and LGBT movements. Like Mrs. see this speech?

Maria da penha - In reality, the government's position is still far below what it should be. However, I have noticed that women in the Chamber and Senate are willing to continue the fight for the implementation of the law [Maria da Penha].

I believe that, soon, there will be a redirection from the government because we have not seen progress in policies to combat violence against women. It is necessary to multiply the Brazilian Women's Houses, which concentrate, in a single space, all the policies that make the law come to fruition. 

Nothing has been commented on this yet. I do not believe that this darkness, this silence regarding the federal government's involvement in combating domestic violence will last.

I don't believe that everyone will remain silent in the face of the data that the media has presented. Perhaps the increase in violence is related to this silent policy.

We hope that feminists, researchers and social movements, among other segments, are heard. It is necessary to show that the situation is very serious.

Furthermore, the murders of women result in tragic orphanhood. Research carried out by the Maria da Penha Institute, in the nine capitals of the Northeast, reveals that, on average, three children become orphans when their mother is murdered.

What are these children today? What about those who have just been orphaned? What can you do for them? And your future? I am very concerned about these invisible victims of domestic violence. If I had died in May 1983, I would have left behind three daughters who, at the time, were 7, 4 and 2 years old. This is the age range of orphans in most cases of femicide.


JU – The government is proposing to make gun ownership more flexible. Like Mrs. see the proposal?

Maria da penha - I see it with dismay. I was shot myself... There will be an increase in cases of femicide. I hope that at least there is a criterion to determine whether or not a person can use a weapon.


JU – Mrs. Do you believe in a retreat?

Maria da penha - We don't know what the government will do. It is expected that there will be reflection. If he is convinced that it is necessary to arm the population, he will do it. If the proposal is successful, women will be at greater risk of being murdered; We will again not know what to do.


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