PUBLIC POLICIES AND THE ROLE OF THE STATE IN PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN SITUATIONS OF VIOLENCE

Abstract

Introduction: Violence against women represents a serious public health problem, manifesting itself in forms such as physical, psychological, sexual, patrimonial and moral aggression. This is a reality that has a profound impact on the physical and mental health of victims, often occurring in domestic environments, where trust should prevail. In Brazil, femicide, defined by Law No. 13,104/2015, reflects the extreme face of this violence, often motivated by discrimination or contempt for the female condition. In addition, the data indicate that factors such as color or race amplify inequalities, with black or brown women facing significantly higher rates of violence. Objective: To identify in the literature how the role of the State is configured in guaranteeing the rights of women victims of violence. Method: This is an integrative review structured as: Identification of the theme and formulation of the guiding question;  Search in the literature using inclusion and exclusion criteria;  Extraction, summary, and organization of information from the selected studies, including title, references, year/country, methodological design, and outcomes; Critical and detailed analysis of the studies included in the review, ensuring thematic eligibility and suitability for the study's objective; Interpretation of findings/results;  Discussion of the results and presentation of the review. The searches took place in May 2024 in the National Institutes of Health (PubMed), Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS), and in the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) virtual library. Results: The search identified 75 potentially relevant studies in the databases, however 6 articles were analyzed in full, after analysis and exclusion criteria. It is noted that the largest number of publications took place between the years 2014 and 2023, and in 2023 there were 2 publications, showing that the theme is emerging, which denotes greater concern to understand the problem. Conclusion: Therefore, Public Policies for the protection of women in Brazil have advanced significantly, however, the challenges include failures in the integration between health and public safety, as well as gaps in the notification and adequate referral of victims. It is therefore suggested that further research focus on the effectiveness of public policies in different regions and types of services, in addition to investigating the factors that limit the practical application of laws.