Half of Brazilian women claim to have faced violence from partners
More than half of Brazilian women (54%) who have been in relationships with men reported having experienced some form of violence from them. However, only 11 percent of men who have been in relationships with women admit to having committed acts of violence against partners or ex-partners. The results are included in the study 20 anos da Lei Maria da Penha: percepção da sociedade brasileira…
A recent study reveals that 54% of Brazilian women who have been in relationships with men have experienced some form of violence from their partners. In contrast, only 11% of men admit to committing acts of violence against partners or ex-partners. The research, titled "Twenty Years of the Maria da Penha Law – Perceptions of Brazilian Society," was conducted by the Patrícia Galvão Institute and the Locomotiva Institute, with support from Uber.
The study polled 1,500 people aged 16 and older from across Brazil in April 2026 to gauge how society views domestic and family violence.
Despite progress, the report highlights alarming levels of violence against women, with the Women’s Assistance Hotline recording over 1 million calls in 2025, a 45% increase from the previous year, and 155,000 reports of violence, averaging 425 cases daily. Vera Vieira, executive director of the Patrícia Galvão Institute, emphasizes that while the Maria da Penha Law, enacted in 2006, is widely recognized as crucial for women's protection, it is not seen as enough by many.
The biggest barrier to reporting violence is the perception of impunity, cited by 56% of respondents, followed by slow judicial processing, reported by 39%.
Most women (77%) feel men do not recognize certain behaviors as violence, and 82% believe many men overlook violence committed by others. The most commonly reported violence type is psychological (42%), followed by physical (25%). When witnessing violence against women, women tend to call the police, while men prefer direct intervention. Women's police stations are the most familiar support resource for Brazilian women, mentioned by three-quarters of women.
The survey reveals that after 20 years, the Maria da Penha Law is well-known, with 49% of women feeling very familiar with it. However, 82% believe the law alone is insufficient to combat domestic violence, and 54% feel more protected by its existence. Three-quarters of women see the law as impacting their lives positively, making them more aware of violence risks.
Despite this, awareness of economic violence protections is low, with only 46% aware that economic abuse is covered. Awareness of property protection measures is even lower, at 38%. The survey director stresses that societal normalization of violent behaviors, especially control and surveillance, remains a significant concern, as psychological violence is often the most prevalent reality faced by women.
Written by urgent.news from Agencia Brasil's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
