On August 23rd, the Supreme Federal Court (STF) inaugurated the first edition of STF Listens, bringing together social organizations that work to combat domestic violence. This is an initiative of the Supreme Court Ombudsman’s Office, in partnership with the Secretariat for Relations with Society and the Secretariat for Social Communication, with the aim of encouraging active listening on issues relevant to the work and services of the STF. 15 organizations were invited to speak at the event, including CEPIA, represented by Leila Linhares Barsted and Mariana Barsted.
The event promoted a debate on preventing and combating domestic violence from the perspective of social organizations that deal with the issue. The main contributions received at the event will make up a report with the aim of guiding the Supreme Court on how to improve its actions and services in the area, especially with regard to (1) access to justice, identification and judgment of issues with general repercussion; (2) combating gender disinformation; and (3) the work of the Women’s Ombudsman.
Leila Linhares Barsted, representing CEPIA and the Maria da Penha Law Consortium, was one of those selected to speak at the event, where she spoke about issues affecting women, such as the continued criminalization of abortion and the Parental Alienation Law, which prevents women from reporting domestic violence for fear of losing custody of their children. She also highlighted the failure to implement the Maria da Penha Law in terms of the absence of public policies to prevent gender-based violence, as provided for in the Belém do Pará Convention, the CEDAW Recommendations and the Maria da Penha Law.
The organizations selected were: ABMCJ – Brazilian Association of Women in Legal Careers; AMIOR – Association of Indigenous Women Organized in a Network; Association of Evangelical Women for Gender Equality; Marielle Franco Brazil Shelter; CFEMEA – Feminist Centre for Studies and Advice; CEPIA – Citizenship, Study, Research, Information and Action; Federal University of Pará Violence Care Clinic; Mothers in Struggle Collective; AzMinas Institute and Terceiro Andar Consultoria; IBDFAM – Brazilian Family Law Institute; IMP – Maria da Penha Institute; Viva Mulher, Rights and Citizenship Institute; Odara – Black Women’s Institute; Themis – Gender, Justice and Human Rights; Brazilian Women’s Union.
