As mulheres vítimas de violência doméstica e o seu protagonismo processual: propostas de mudanças legislativas para a participação ativa das mulheres nos processos-crime em que se apura a violência doméstica

Abstract

The research investigates the role played by the woman-victim in the Brazilian criminal justice system, which is focused on the punishment of men involved in cases of domestic violence, with the victim occupying the position of supporting processes, which makes the criminal justice system obsolete, slow and revictimizing. The investigation aims to outline the historical context of the treatment of victims in Brazilian procedural legislation with a focus on the 1941 Criminal Procedure Code and its successive topical reforms. It analyzes the Maria da Penha Law (Law nº 11.340/2006) as the legal reference of the research and the advances in the sense of guaranteeing the active participation of the woman-victim in the criminal process. During the investigation, data were collected in cases that were being processed at the Domestic Violence Court of João Pessoa and that were randomly selected for the concentrated effort of August 2022 (Program Justice for peace at home), with the aim of investigating, in practice, what are the difficulties encountered in carrying out the active role of women-victims in the processes. There was a need to implement existing legal measures, such as reflective groups for men and legislative changes, such as the use of conditional suspension of proceedings and non-prosecution agreements for crimes under the Maria da Penha Law. It was proposed to change the ownership of criminal proceedings in crimes against honor committed against women in situations of domestic violence; as an effective response to break gender stereotypes and provide judgments with a gender perspective, realizing the constitutionally provided dignity and ensuring the necessary role for women victims of domestic violence in criminal proceedings.