Brazil reports 737 thousand cases of domestic violence in nine years

Nearly ten thousand women fell victim to feminicide or attempted murder for gender-related reasons in Brazil over the last nine years, according to a survey conducted by women’s helpline Ligue 180 (Call 180). Since 2009, the call center registered the death of at least 3.1 thousand women, and another 6.4 thousand cases of attempted murder.

The highest number of reports was seen in 2015, when feminicide was included in Brazil’s Criminal Code as an aggravator in murder cases and the list of heinous crimes. Women reported murdered added up to 956, compared to the previous year’s 69.

The number of reports, however, is still considerably below the amount of feminicides that take place in reality. According to the System for Data on Mortality—SIM, in the original Portuguese—linked to the Ministry of Health, in 2016 alone, some 4,635 women were killed in physical attacks, a daily average of 12.6 deaths.

Brazil’s National Secretary for Women Andreza Colatto warns that a number of killings could be avoided. “When we bring a cycle of violence against a woman to a halt after a simple call, we are saving a life,” she declared.

The number of reports is still considerably below the amount of feminicides that take place in reality. - Marcos Santos/USP

The tip of the iceberg

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one out of three women around the world have suffered physical and/or sexual violence at least once. The organization estimates that women exposed to domestic violence are twice as likely to develop depression and alcohol abuse.

The killing of women due to their gender is the most serious expression of all types of gender-based violence.

Data from the Ligue 180 helpline reveal that, since 2009, 737 thousand cases of domestic violence have been reported—over 80 percent of the total calls received. Of the attacks reported to take place in a family environment over the last years, approximately 60 percent are physical and some 30 percent psychological—violence that usually precedes a feminicide.

Graciele Reis, head of the Specialized Women’s Assistance Center (Ceam) in the Federal District, reported that domestic violence is the most commonly identified crime in women’s accounts.

Psychological abuse

“When a woman seeks help, it usually means her case has reached the physical violence stage. When she understands she’s been a victim of psychological abuse, it [usually] means she’s reached unbearable levels of humiliation and isolation,” Reis pointed out.

Sexual and patrimonial violence in women’s married life is also believed to be taken for granted. “[Men] usually think, ‘I’m the one who works, but she manages my money, as she knows how best to use it.’ This way of thinking deprives women of their their autonomy, their freedom to do whatever she wants with the money from her own work,” she argued.

“When people think of sexual violence, they usually picture rapes with a lot of tugging, and clothes being torn. Women may hear ‘you’re cold,’ ‘you never feel like it,’ ‘you’re my wife and have a role to fulfill.’ Men may feel upset, and women end up giving in so men won’t act so angry, and women don’t see this as sexual violence,” she said.

Maria da Penha Institute (IMP) vice-President Regina Célia Almeida Silva Barbosa believes verbal abuse and annoyance should be given more attention, as they are often misjudged as natural.

“A feminicide doesn’t start as such. It starts with subtle signs of something perpetrators see as permission being given [by women themselves],” Regina Célia remarked.

Ceam

Ceam helps women with a wide range of social backgrounds—from homeless to well-to-do victims. They share the same fear of retaliation from their partners and of being condemned by society, the lack of education on the types of abuse, and the difficulties in bringing the problem to light, especially before the police and the law.

“We’ve assisted women who had experienced severe physical violence—including cracked teeth, stabs, shots, blows. It’s not easy to leave your home [to file a report], it’s not easy to muster your courage; but we so see these difficulties being overcome every once in a while,” Reis said.

In the daily lives of female victims of domestic violence, Reis says police and law enforcement agents find it difficult to identify psychological abuse as such without evidence like swearing and bruises.

“[Women] have to bring psychological abuse to light, as it leads to  severe mental disorders. Sadly, the state is still not fully prepared to listen to victims,” Reis said.