THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROTECTIVE MEASURES IN PREVENTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE FEDERAL DISTRICT AND SURROUNDING AREA

Abstract

Domestic violence against women represents one of the most serious human rights violations in Brazil, reflecting structural gender inequalities and institutional weaknesses in victim protection. Law nº 11.340/2006, known as the Maria da Penha Law, was enacted to address this issue, establishing urgent protectivemeasures. However, despite legal advances, the recurrence of cases and the noncompliance with such measures remain concerning. In the Federal District and its surrounding areas, the data reveal the scale of the problem: in 2024 alone, 27,603 domestic violence cases were registered, with 8,871 urgent protective measures granted by July of the same year. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of urgent protective measures in preventing domestic violence in the region, seeking to understand to what extent they have ensured women’s safety. The analysis will focus on recurrence rates, the main challenges faced by authorities in the implementation and monitoring of such measures, as well as the perception of legal professionals regarding their effectiveness. This qualitative and descriptive research also intends to propose legal and institutional recommendations to improve public policies for combating gender-based violence.