INSTITUTIONAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Abstract

This article analyzes the impacts of institutional violence against women victims of domestic violence in Brazil. To this end, it starts from the understanding that gender inequality is sustained by historical and cultural elements that shape social behaviors and influence the functioning of state institutions. The research discusses how these structures are reflected in the services offered to women, especially in the agencies that make up the protection network. The analysis also addresses obstacles to access to justice, highlighting emotional, economic, and institutional factors that hinder reporting and expose victims to episodes of revictimization. The Maria da Penha case is used as an emblematic example of the state's failure to provide an adequate response, revealing the persistence of institutional negligence even in the face of legislative advances. Finally, it demonstrates that institutional violence acts as a structural barrier to confronting gender-based violence, weakening trust in the justice system and compromising the effectiveness of public protection policies. It concludes that, to guarantee humane and effective care, it is essential to transform institutional practices and improve the performance of public agents, overcoming the existing gap between the legal text and the reality experienced by women. Institutional violence. Access to justice. Revictimization. Maria da Penha Law.