On April 3, 2023, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed Law No. 14,541 of April 3, 2023, which provides for the creation and uninterrupted operation of specialized police stations for women (Delegacias Especializadas de Atendimento à Mulher). The law entered into force upon its publication in the official gazette the following day.
In addition to the functions of specialized police assistance and judicial police for women, the government must provide psychological and legal assistance to female victims of violence through the specialized police stations; an agreement with the Public Defender’s Office; and the organs of the Unified Social Assistance System (Sistema Único de Assistência Social) and the Courts of Domestic and Family Violence against Women (Juizados de Violência Doméstica e Familiar contra a Mulher) or competent criminal courts. (Law No. 14,541, art. 2.)
The specialized police stations are intended to assist all women who have been victims of domestic and family violence and crimes against sexual dignity, and must function around the clock, including on holidays and weekends. (Art. 3.) The assistance to women at the specialized police stations will be carried out in a private room and, preferably, by female police officers. (Art. 3(§ 1).) The police officers responsible for the assistance must receive adequate training to allow for the reception of victims in an effective and humanitarian manner. (Art. 3(§ 2).) The specialized police stations must provide a telephone number or other electronic messenger for immediately alerting the police in cases of violence against women. (Art. 3(§ 3).)
Eduardo Soares, Law Library of Congress
April 28, 2023
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