2024 new Brazilian law punishes femicide with up to 40 years in prison

Legislation

Executive Summary

This new law, ratified by President Lula da Silva on October 9, 2024, increases the maximum sentence for femicide up to 40 years. For the first time, femicide is included in the list of heinous crimes such as homicide, rape, and kidnapping of children - and no longer just a qualified homicide (which is punished with 12 to 30 years in prison).

According to the 18th Brazilian Public Security Yearbook, 1,467 women died as victims of femicide in 2023 — the highest number since the law that defines the crime was passed in 2015. Assaults resulting from domestic violence increased by 9.8%, totaling 258,941 cases.

The law can be found here: https://normas.leg.br/?urn=urn:lex:br:federal:lei:2024-10-09;14994 

Author(s)

Brazilian Senate Agency

Aggravating circumstances

It also establishes aggravating circumstances for the crime of femicide, in which the sentence will be increased by one third to half. 

For example:

when the femicide is committed during pregnancy, in the three months after childbirth or if the victim is a mother or guardian of a child;

when it is against a minor under 14 years of age, or over 60 years of age, or a woman with a disability or degenerative disease;

when it is committed in the presence of the victim's parents or children;

when it is committed in breach of the urgent protective measures provided for in the Maria da Penha Law and

and in the case of the use of poison, torture, ambush or restricted-use weapons against the victim.

More information about Brazil

 

 


 

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