São Paulo joins the 'Women, Living Without Violence' campaign.

Flavia Albuquerque
Reporter from Agência Brasil

São Paulo – Starting today (26), the state of São Paulo is part of the federal government’s Women, Living without Violence program. The program aims to integrate public services for women in situations of violence, providing humane care and access to the Maria da Penha Law. Among the actions is the construction of the Casa da Mulher Brasileira, one in each state.

There will be improvements in the collection of evidence from sexual crimes, the transformation of the Women's Helpline (the 180 hotline) into a hotline for reporting crimes, allowing for the immediate activation of the Military Police and the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU), and the creation of six referral centers on land borders.

Investments total R$ 265 million. In São Paulo, R$ 142 million will be invested. For the Casa da Mulher Brasileira (Brazilian Women's House), R$ 4,3 million is planned for construction, equipment, and furniture. The same space will house a police station, special court, Public Prosecutor's Office, Public Defender's Office, temporary shelter, psychosocial support, a women's social space, a training and guidance room for work, employment and income, and a playroom.

According to the Minister of the Secretariat for Policies for Women of the Presidency of the Republic, Eleonora Menicucci, in São Paulo, the Casa da Mulher Brasileira (Brazilian Women's House) will be located in Cambuci, and one of the advantages pointed out by the minister is the ease of access to public facilities and urban transport near the property, including units of the Military Police, the Fire Department and specialized clinics, as well as daycare, school, bus and subway stations.

"And with the services we will offer at the center, such as a police station and a judicial unit, there will be speed and expedited protective measures that save women. The woman will leave there with the protective order and the case opened. She will have psychosocial support, because every woman who suffers violence is left with trauma. She will also have access to training and qualification courses," explained the minister.

Eleonora also said that the woman will be referred by whatever means she chooses; that is, if she goes to a police station, calls the 180 hotline, an emergency room, or a hospital, she will be picked up by the shelter in a car that will be made available for the service. "The Transportation Center is another service offered by the shelter and will be done with a regular car."

The services will be available in 120 days and will provide approximately 200 services daily. For women who need to stay in the shelter for a period of time, 20 beds will be offered, in addition to 20 for children accompanying their mothers. "This will be for those who are not yet in a shelter situation, who have nowhere to go and need to stay there until a place is provided. The stay will be as short as possible, a maximum of 30 days," she said.

Edited by: Beto Coura