The assistance to women victims of domestic violence 
has gained new rules, with more rights guaranteed throughout the process: at the time of the expertise, when giving testimony, or when dealing with court officials. Law No. 13,505, sanctioned by the President of the Republic, Michel Temer, adds items to the Maria da Penha Law and brings guidelines for police assistance and forensic work.
The delegate of the Special Police Station for Women’s Assistance in the Federal District (Deam/DF), Sandra Melo, explains that the guidelines are directed primarily at police authorities. “The big news is that the assistance should preferably be provided, that is, when conditions allow, by female personnel,” she says.
Check below what has changed in the Maria da Penha Law and what each of these changes represents in combating and repressing domestic violence and protecting victims:
1. One of the rights guaranteed to women in situations of domestic and family violence is to undergo specialized police and forensic assistance, uninterrupted and preferably provided by female staff. “There are victims who feel more comfortable with female professionals, and if she expresses this, we will make a female professional available to assist her,” explains Sandra Melo.
2. The questions and inquiries during the assistance must prioritize the physical, psychological, and emotional integrity of the witness. The woman, her family members, and witnesses must be guaranteed that they will not have direct contact with the investigated or suspected individuals and people related to them.
3. A woman in a situation of violence should not be re-victimized when giving testimony. This means that successive questioning about the same fact in criminal, civil, and administrative contexts should be avoided. Similarly, questions about private life should be avoided.
4. The listening and interrogation must be conducted in locations equipped appropriately for the woman’s age and the severity of the violence. According to delegate Sandra Melo, this applies to certain peculiarities of the assistance, for example, for minors. “The location must always be private to preserve the identity and intimacy of the victim,” she says.
5. Professionals specialized in domestic violence should mediate the listening and testimonies when necessary. “Sometimes, the woman has an emotional block. Here at Deam, for example, we signed a cooperation agreement with universities, and in these cases, we ask for help from professionals in psychology or law to conduct this listening,” reports the delegate.
6. The testimonies provided must be recorded in electronic or magnetic media. The transcription, that is, the transcription of the audio and the media containing the record must be part of the inquiry. “This measure is important so that the victim does not have to repeat the same testimony in other phases of the process,” explains Sandra.
7. The formulation of policies and plans for assisting women in situations of domestic and family violence will prioritize, within the scope of the Civil Police, the creation of Specialized Police Stations for Women’s Assistance (Deams), Investigative Units for Femicide, and specialized teams for the assistance and investigation of serious violence against women.
Source: Government of Brazil