Access to Justice for Women Victims of Domestic Violence in Brazil: Analysis and Categorization of Policies

Domestic violence against women is a severe problem in Brazil and worldwide. The Brazilian system presents innovative policies aimed at women’s access to justice, which have not yet been systematized or empirically examined. This article aims to identify, analyze, and categorize the main policies for access to justice for victims of domestic violence in Brazil. Methods used are documentary analysis and data collection were conducted. Data were requested from public institutions and collected from 27 state governments and the federal government. As results, the research found that, in addition to access to justice policies commonly adopted worldwide—such as emergency protective measures, risk assessment forms, call centers for women, and panic buttons, Brazil has implemented several innovations, particularly: (i) multidisciplinary care centers, (ii) specialized police stations, (iii) shelters and rental assistance, (iv) employment quotas, (v) special pensions for orphans, and (vi) aesthetic repair. In conclusion: (i) the ten public policies are effective and have benefited millions of women in Brazil; (ii) there is a need to coordinate these policies, assess their effectiveness, and consolidate data; (iii) new technologies offer opportunities to develop tools that facilitate access to justice and prevent and redress domestic violence; and (iv) these policies may be adopted by other countries, with appropriate contextual adaptations.