Open AccessBetter Prevention of Femicide: Evidence from Brazil
Author(s) -
Thiago Pierobom de Ávila,
Marcela Novais Medeiros,
Cátia Betânia Chagas,
Elaine Novaes Vieira,
Thais Quezado Soares Magalhães,
Andrea Simoni Zappa Passeto
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal for crime, justice and social democracy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.36
H-Index - 16
eISSN - 2202-7998
pISSN - 2202-8005
DOI - 10.5204/ijcjsd.2073
Subject(s) - femicide , psychosocial , criminology , crime prevention , domestic violence , political science , pandemic , suicide prevention , medicine , psychology , poison control , environmental health , covid-19 , psychiatry , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
This article presents the results of a death review study of 34 cases of femicide in the Federal District, Brazil, between 2016 and 2017. The aim of the study is to analyse how primary, secondary and tertiary prevention policies could have enhanced the prevention of these particular femicides. The study uses a mixed-method research design to analyse the judicial and health files of victims and perpetrators, supplemented by semi-structured interviews with surviving relatives. The findings highlight the need for an intersectional approach to gender, race, class and migration status in prevention policies; better risk assessment and management; enhanced women’s reporting of domestic violence earlier; and better integration of the justice system with psychosocial services. The increase of violence against women during the COVID-19 pandemic strengthens the need for an integrated approach to the prevention of lethal gender violence. This paper provides an original contribution to better comprehend the profile of femicide victims and perpetrators with a view on how to improve prevention policies in Brazil.