Two in ten women have been threatened with death by their partner, ex or boyfriend in Brazil, according to research released this Monday (25), by the Patrícia Galvão Institute. The data estimates that approximately 17 million of Brazilian women have lived or live in a situation of risk of femicide.
The study “Fear, threat and risk: women’s perceptions and experiences of domestic violence and feminicide”, was carried out in conjunction with Consulting do Brasil and had support from the Ministry of Women, of the Federal Government.
In total, 1,353 women over 18 years of age were interviewed, using an online questionnaire, between October 23 and 30 this year.
Among the victims of threats, the survey showed that 16% were white and 26% were black.
Furthermore, the survey also recorded that 6 out of 10 respondents know at least one woman who has been threatened with death by a current or former partner.
Feeling of impunity and disbelief in the effectiveness of laws and public policies
Only 20% of those interviewed believe that men who commit violence are arrested. According to 95% of the women who participated, although they know that domestic violence is a crime, men are convinced that they will not be punished.
The survey showed that 8 out of 10 women believe that increasing the penalty for the crime of domestic violence against women helps to prevent more cases of femicide. However, at the same time, they agree that the police do not take reports of attempted femicide seriously.
Spontaneously, 97% pointed to the Women’s Police Station as the place or service where a woman who is being threatened with violence can seek help.
Why do women stay in violent relationships?
Economic dependence on the aggressor was identified as the main reason why women who suffer constant aggression from their partner are unable to escape the violent situation.
Social and psychological assistance to strengthen self-esteem and become financially independent from the aggressor is what women say they need most to leave the violent relationship.
Sexist culture is cited by 44% of those interviewed as a reason for intimate femicide – a term used to designate the murder of a woman in the context of domestic and family violence, carried out by someone known to the victim.
The Patrícia Galvão Institute states that social networks play a fundamental role in raising awareness and mobilizing society against feminicide. Among the strategies highlighted are:
- Create awareness and education campaigns about violence against women;
- Monitor and report content that promotes violence against women;
- Establish online support groups where victims can share experiences and get help, and use digital influencers to promote messages of gender equality and respect between women and men.
“The research reveals that women believe that there has been an increase in cases of femicide in recent years and this perception is mainly due to the feeling of impunity and also disbelief in relation to the effectiveness of public policies for prevention and accountability for the perpetrators of these crimes. The women interviewed highlighted that victims of threats from partners are very afraid and need support from the State to leave these violent relationships and be protected against death threats and the real risk of feminicide”, says Jacira Melo, executive director of the Institute Patrícia Galvão.
*Under supervision
This content was originally published in Two in 10 women have been threatened with death by their partner or ex in Brazil, says research on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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