An exploratory approach to violence against women in the State of Maranhao (Brazil): Should change the Maria da Penha Law?

This paper begins with a brief review of the current situation of violence against women in Brazilian context, focusing more in the Northeast and in the State of Maranhao. For this we will make a slight reference to studies and research on violence against women. Then we review the legislation on gender violence in particular No. 11,340 / 2006 and Law Maria da Penha Law, making a criticism of its use and failure to adapt to the realities of Brazilian society. In order to contrast the data analyzed in the reviewed studies and analysis of the scientific literature, we proceeded to perform, from a qualitative approach, an exploratory approach to the reality of violence against women in Maranhao. To that end, using qualitative techniques were carried out 12 in-depth interviews to women of different ages and socio-economic status. Two in-depth interviews with key informants - a Judge of the "Tercera Vara Especial de Combate a Violencia Domestica e Familiar Contra a Mulher" of the city of Sao Luis do Maranhao and prosecuted for domestic violence in rehabilitation man. A discussion group with 7 graduates and lawyers was also performed. In addition to participatory-indirect observation in the streets of the city of Sao Luis do Maranhao, recording the analysis in a field diary for a week.