ENTRE MORTES E MARIAS: OS IMPACTOS DA PANDEMIA DO COVID-19 NA (DES)PROTEÇÃO ÀS MULHERES VÍTIMAS DE VIOLÊNCIA DOMÉSTICA NO ESTADO DA PARAÍBA

Abstract

This study examines violence against women as a persistent social issue, emphasizing its five main forms: physical, psychological, moral, sexual, and patrimonial. The Maria da Penha Law (Law No. 11,340/2006) and the Feminicide Law (Law No. 13,104/2015) are identified as crucial milestones in the fight against domestic violence. During the Covid-19 pandemic, however, violence against women became more visible, as the crisis extended beyond public health and revealed a significant increase in domestic violence and feminicide cases. The central objective of this research is to analyze the role of the Brazilian State in combating gender based violence through the enforcement of constitutional guarantees, the use of technology, and the effectiveness of public policies in the state of Paraíba. Specifically, the study investigates how equality provisions enshrined in the 1988 Federal Constitution and in international treaties influenced the development of gender-based violence policies in Brazil; examines the State‘s responsibilities in addressing such violence through public policies, technological tools, and the Maria da Penha Law; and discusses the public programs and initiatives implemented in Paraíba, evaluating their application and effectiveness in the post-pandemic context. The findings suggest the urgent need for preventive and monitoring measures, with the State bearing responsibility for implementing protection policies, support mechanisms, and strategies for the social reintegration of affected women. Despite legislative progress, Brazil continues to face major challenges, as violence against women remains among the highest worldwide. In Paraíba, the pandemic created a paradoxical scenario: although feminicide cases showed an apparent decline between 2020 and 2021, this reduction must be interpreted cautiously, as social isolation restricted victims‘ access to support networks. The study also underscores the relevance of intersectionality, highlighting that in Paraíba, Black women face a 2.4 times greater risk of homicide compared to non-Black women, a rate above the national average. It is therefore argued that socio-cultural change is imperative, with the strengthening of mechanisms for prevention, accountability, protection, and support, in order to build a society in which no form of violence is overlooked and all women can fully exercise their rights to life, dignity, and security.