In Brazil, law on violence against women must include trans women

Brazil’s Supreme Court decided Tuesday (Apr. 5) that the Maria da Penha Law may be applied to protect transsexual women. The ruling is valid only for the case in question, but may set a precedent for any other cases under deliberation in the country’s Judiciary.

The move comes following an appeal filed against a lower court decision in São Paulo, which rejected the application of the Maria da Penha Law claiming it should not include situations involving gender identity, i. e. benefiting people who identify as women.

Created in 2006, the Maria da Penha Law introduced protection measures to curb domestic violence against women, including the removal from family life, the establishment of domestic violence courts, and assistance measures for victims.