Think of the five most important women in your life. If we take into account Brazilian statistics, at least one of them may have already suffered from domestic violence. 2 MINUTES TO UNDERSTAND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Violence against women is democratic.
As reported by the World Health Organization, it occurs in all social, religious, cultural and economic groups. And in the most different ways. According to the Maria da Penha law a woman can suffer physical [OFENDING THE INTEGRITY OF HEALTH OR BODY], psychological [CAUSING EMOTIONAL DAMAGE], sexual [EMBARASSING HER OR COERCING INTERCOURSE] patrimonial [IMPEDING ACCESS TO GOODS AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES] and moral violence [CONFIGURING DEFAMATION] Most women that are victims of violence are assaulted by their partners or former partners.
Both at home and on the street. And it happens all the time. Every 17 minutes, a woman is physically assaulted in Brazil.
Every half hour, someone suffers psychological or moral violence. Every three hours someone reports a case of private jail. In one day, 8 cases of sexual violence are discovered in the country.
[RAPE, HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL EXPLORATION] And every week, 33 women are murdered by former or current partners. The attacks happen every week for 75% of the victims, a scenario that is maintained up to 5 years. This violence also affects the most vulnerable part of the family.
The vast majority of women are mothers, [78% ARE MOTHERS] and children end up seeing or suffering the aggressions. [80% OF CHILDREN] Why don’t these women just end it? Because it's not that simple.
They often report that they are afraid of getting beat up worse, or even being killed, if they ever said anything. They also fear that they might come out as the villain. In addition, many are financially dependent on the abuser [4 OUT OF 10] and do not receive emotional support from family members or acquaintances.
Another disincentive is the lack of appropriate punishment for the offender. They only stay behind bars for three months up to three years. If they ever do.
The reason for all this problem is historical. Gender equality before law is a very recent issue in Brazil. Up until 1940 there still existed the Law of Honor, which annulled the guilt of the husband in case he murdered the wife who had cheated on him.
Out there, in countries like Egypt, this law is valid to this day. Around here, what we can do is to take advantage of dates like the Women's Day to make it clear that this type of violence is not acceptable and that when the offender does not realize it, [82% OF THE POPULATION BELIEVES THAT “NO ONE SHOULD POKE THEIR NOSE INTO A HUSBAND-AND-WIFE FIGHT” (OR POKE YOUR SPOON, AS WE SAY IN PORTUGUESE) our only choice is to meddle.
