VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

PREAMBLE

Violence against women in Brazil is a large and persistent problem, affecting millions of Brazilian women every year. Even with important laws and public policies, the numbers show that many women still face physical, psychological, sexual, and even lethal violence.

According to the National Survey of Violence against Women, in 2025 approximately 3.7 million women suffered domestic or family violence — that is, aggression within the home or by someone close to them. Many of these situations are not always reported, but when they are recorded, they show an alarming picture of vulnerability and repetition of episodes.

​

Another worrying indicator is femicide, which is the murder of a woman for reasons of gender — when she is killed simply for being a woman. In the first half of 2025, 718 femicides were recorded in Brazil, which gives an average of about four women killed per day due to gender-based violence.

Furthermore, sexual violence is also a concern: during the same period, there were 33,999 cases of rape against women, representing an average of almost 187 cases per day.

This data shows that violence against women in Brazil is a broad phenomenon — ranging from frequent domestic assaults to serious crimes such as rape and homicide motivated by gender. Often, the violence occurs within the home, perpetrated by intimate partners, ex-partners, or family members, which makes it even more difficult for victims to feel safe and seek help.

Fortunately, there are specific laws that attempt to protect women and combat these crimes. The best known is the Maria da Penha Law, created to curb domestic and family violence and allow victims to have protection measures and legal support.

However, even with this legal framework, violence remains high — highlighting the need for a support network, psychological assistance, access to justice, and more effective public policies to prevent, punish, and combat gender-based violence in the country.

OUR ACTION

Given the alarming scenario of violence against women in Brazil, Hands On Human Rights acts in an integrated, humanized, and rights-oriented manner, recognizing gender-based violence as a serious violation of human rights that demands quick, sensitive, and effective responses.

​

Hands On's work begins with the qualified reception of women in situations of violence, prioritizing active listening, respect for the victim's autonomy, and immediate risk assessment. Each case is analyzed individually, considering the family, social, economic, and emotional context, as well as the recurrence of aggressions and the existence of threats to the woman's physical integrity or life.

​

Based on this diagnosis, the organization provides legal assistance, guiding and accompanying women in accessing legal protection mechanisms, such as emergency protective measures provided for in the Maria da Penha Law, filing police reports, referrals to the support network, and, when necessary, strategic action with the Judiciary and other public bodies. The focus is not only on holding the aggressor accountable, but above all on the comprehensive protection of the victim and her dependents.

​

In parallel, Hands On works in coordination with the protection network, promoting the referral of women to psychological support services, social assistance, health services, and institutional shelter when remaining in the violent environment proves unfeasible or unsafe. The organization understands that breaking the cycle of violence depends on coordinated and continuous action.

​

In addition to directly responding to specific cases, Hands On develops prevention, awareness-raising, and human rights training actions aimed at communities, schools, companies, and public institutions, focusing on deconstructing cultural patterns that normalize gender violence and disseminating information about rights, protection, and support channels.

​

Finally, Hands On conducts ongoing monitoring of the cases it follows, evaluating the effectiveness of the measures adopted and offering continuous support to the women served. This action reflects the organization's commitment to defending the life, dignity, and autonomy of women, transforming the right to protection into a concrete reality, especially for those who are in a more vulnerable situation.