Did you know that in August Brazil celebrates 20 years of the Maria da Penha Law (No. 11,340/2006)? This law creates mechanisms to prevent and stop *domestic and family violence against women. It applies to any intimate relationship, such as marriage, dating or even a relationship that has already ended, regardless of whether the people involved live together and of their sexual orientation. And it is not limited to partners: it also covers fathers, stepfathers, brothers and sons.

*See the glossary at the end of this article.

The Maria da Penha Law seeks to guarantee women full protection in cases of violence. In other words, in addition to punishing the aggressor, it:

• Creates *Urgent Protective Measures (MPUs), such as removing the perpetrator of violence;
• Prevents new cases from arising (through campaigns and training, for example);
• Seeks to support women with what they are likely to lack after reporting (such as housing and money);
• And determines that the response should not be limited to the police: health, social assistance, education, labor and housing services must work together so that women can truly break the cycle of violence.

A lot has changed in the country with the Maria da Penha Law. Before it was enacted, for example, domestic violence was considered a minor offense (that is, of little seriousness) and could be settled with something as simple as handing over a basic food basket. The law also began to recognize as violence what leaves no marks on the body, such as humiliation, control over money, constant surveillance and isolation from family and friends.

To learn more about this law, visit the Instituto Maria da Penha website.

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Who is Maria da Penha?

She is a biochemical pharmacist, is 81 years old and was born in Fortaleza (Ceará). In 1983, she survived two murder attempts by her then-husband; in one of them, she became paraplegic after being shot in the back while she slept. Since the aggressor was still free almost 15 years later, she took the case to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States (OAS), which in 2001 held Brazil responsible for negligence and recommended that she receive reparations. The law was named after her as part of these reparations. In 2009, she founded the Instituto Maria da Penha.

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In cases of violence, report it!

Many victims do not report out of a sense of shame that, unfortunately, still prevails because of the way this subject is treated culturally. However, asking for protection works, it is fast, and the woman’s own account is enough. According to the National Council of Justice (CNJ), 85% of requests for protective measures received a first response from the courts within 24 hours over the past year; in 2020, the average time was 14 days. The study “Femicide and Urgent Protective Measures”, presented on August 7 by the same body, also shows that, among *femicide cases with available data on the victim, two out of three women did not have an Urgent Protective Measure against the aggressor. Most, therefore, were not protected by the law when they were killed.

The law is effective. What happens is that victims often don’t make use of the law. We usually see many femicide cases, more than cases in which the law worked. That leads some women not to use it,” says Aline Beirão, a social work technician at IC.

What is still missing?

After reporting, many women end up losing income, their support network and even their home, as they had until then depended on their aggressors. This is precisely the support the law seeks to offer victims, even if still insufficiently. “For a woman to be able to break away from violence, she needs a very good State structure to support her,” says Bárbara Lopes, coordinator of the *Women’s Reference and Citizenship Center – Casa da Mulher Brasilândia, which serves women experiencing domestic and gender-based violence and works to prevent new cases in the territory.

According to the coordinator, the fear of not being able to support themselves after leaving is one of the main obstacles today preventing victims from seeking legal protection. Many end up becoming single mothers and need to find a job, full-time school (so they can work), housing, adequate transportation and financial assistance.

In most cases, women who are leaving this cycle have also broken away from their support network. Because they only come to report when they’ve reached the end of the line, without contact with family and friends,” explains Bárbara.

Currently, the law provides for a series of measures to support victims, such as up to six months of leave from work, inclusion in social assistance programs and rental assistance. However, providing for measures is not the same as guaranteeing the budget to carry them out. For many services, such as shelters and support centers, the law states that public authorities may create them and allocate their own resources, but without requiring them to do so. “We have very low investment in policies for women; I think this underfunding and the *bureaucratization of processes are very big problems,” the coordinator adds.

Gender-based violence and migration

While some victims of domestic violence face many difficulties in securing their rights, there are women who never even come close to accessing what the law provides. This is because, for each segment of the population, violence against women manifests itself in different ways and to different degrees.

Migrant women who come to Brazil in search of better living conditions also suffer gender-based violence, but they run into additional barriers, such as lack of documentation, information, a support network and understanding of the language. And precisely because they are so vulnerable, they end up suffering new forms of violence in a self-perpetuating cycle.

Maria Isabel (fictitious name) is one of them. She is Bolivian, a mother of four, two of whom have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and suffered multiple forms of violence from her former partner for years. She even reported him while still in Bolivia, but he kept harassing her and not paying child support.

As a way out, Maria Isabel got in touch with someone in Brazil who offered her a job and even volunteered to pay for her ticket. So she came here with her three young children (the eldest stayed in Bolivia to finish his degree) and ended up subjected to work analogous to slavery, in which she and her children went through yet another series of violations.

I was very afraid the boss would fire me. Where would I go? I came to this country in 2015, but I always stayed at home, I never went out, I never got to know anything, I have no family,” says Maria Isabel.

Over time, she built a new support network: she left her old job and moved with her children to an occupied building. It was also through a friend that Maria Isabel found Instituto C. Today she does some freelance work and recently took a jewelry-making course at the CRCM – Casa da Mulher 25 de Março, with the goal of starting to make pieces to sell. “I want to get a space where I can sell and improve [my children’s] lives. I feel that no child comes into this world to suffer,” she says.

What to do in cases of domestic or gender-based violence?

There is more than one path, and none of them requires a lawyer.

• Online police report: in São Paulo, women can file a report from home using their phone through DDM Online — within the Civil Police’s Online Police Station platform — and, in the same report, request a protective measure. The channel operates 24 hours a day and allows users to attach photos and screenshots of messages. Some incidents, however, such as rape, require in-person assistance.
• Police station: any police station will assist, but the Women’s Police Stations (DDMs) have specialized teams. There are 142 of them in the state of São Paulo.
• 190: call in emergencies. Calls are answered by trained female police officers, who provide guidance on rights and services.
• 180: the Women’s Assistance Hotline operates 24 hours a day, is free and receives reports from anywhere in the country. In addition to phone calls, it also offers assistance via WhatsApp — (61) 99610-0180 — and in Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) via video call. It can also be used to answer questions about rights and find out which services are available near you.
• Protection services: reports can also be made at CRAS (Social Assistance Reference Centers) and at Women’s Reference and Citizenship Centers (CRCMs), where staff help women file a police report.

Glossary

Bureaucratization: the process of making the rules and steps of something more rigid and time-consuming.

Women’s Reference and Citizenship Center (CRCM): a municipal public facility that serves women experiencing violence, with units in several regions of the city.

Femicide: the murder of a woman because she is a woman. It is usually the result of domestic or family violence.

Urgent Protective Measure: a court decision that seeks to keep the aggressor away and protect the victim for as long as the risk lasts.

Domestic and family violence against women: the Maria da Penha Law distinguishes six types: physical, psychological, sexual, property-related, moral and, since April of this year, vicarious.

Vicarious violence: violence committed against a woman’s descendant, ascendant, dependent, stepchild, relative, or a person under her custody or direct responsibility, with the aim of harming her. One example is when the aggressor threatens the children in order to hurt the mother.

The conversation circles, one of the key activities offered by Instituto C to families, are far more than simple group meetings. They act as powerful spaces for integration, fostering authentic connections, active listening, and the enriching exchange of knowledge and experiences.

Through these meaningful dialogues, families learn about important issues and strengthen their community bonds—creating an environment of support, learning, and mutual care.

In this article, you’ll better understand how conversation circles work at the Central Hub and North Zone Hub, the methodology used by Instituto C, and the importance of these moments for each family that participates.

Conversation Circles: Why and How Do They Happen?

Instituto C’s headquarters is located at the Central Hub, where the Family Action Plan is carried out—this was the organization’s first project and the foundation for testing and developing its current care methodology.

At the Central Hub, conversation circles occur every two months and are part of the family care plan. They follow a structured schedule: one month is dedicated to individual sessions with case managers, and the following month, the conversation circle takes place, followed by multidisciplinary services. “We have a planned calendar with six main topics we discuss throughout the year. Families are divided into groups to ensure everyone’s inclusion, and for about an hour, they participate in the discussions,” explains Katia Moretti, coordinator of the Central Hub.

In contrast, the North Zone Hub, launched in March 2022, is where the Cidadania em Rede project is implemented—a comprehensive initiative that brings together Instituto C’s expertise to serve families in vulnerable situations with children and adolescents from surrounding communities.

There, conversation circles are held weekly, with a new topic each week. Unlike the Central Hub, where topics are repeated, the North Zone features a constant variety of themes. In addition to individual services, families have a group session every Monday afternoon. Topics are chosen based on case managers’ observations during individual meetings, recurring needs, or relevant events such as Yellow September (a suicide prevention campaign).

“Each week, a different case manager leads the circle. Two professionals are involved: one chooses the topic and leads the discussion, while the other supports the logistics and setup. The leading professional can facilitate the session themselves or invite a guest expert,” says Talita Lima, coordinator of the North Zone Hub.

The Impact of Conversation Circles

The conversation circles are carefully prepared by Instituto C’s professionals, who identify shared concerns among families and conduct research to enhance the discussions. The aim is to create a collaborative learning environment, not just a lecture format. Dynamic activities encourage active participation, inviting families to share their own stories and insights.

The impact is clear in family evaluations. “The average satisfaction score is extremely high—9.95 out of 10—and all families strongly agree that the sessions help them deal with unfamiliar topics,” says Katia.

“I received valuable, up-to-date information I had never accessed before,” shared Fernanda Lima Zerbatto de Lucena, a participant at the Central Hub.

At the North Zone Hub, although all families are invited, sessions occur outside regular service hours and are scheduled alongside case review and home visits. “We’ve noticed that attendance varies and is usually lower compared to the total number of families served. However, topics that deeply resonate—such as autism or child development—often draw a larger audience,” explains Talita.

There, topics are announced in advance, allowing families to choose the sessions most relevant to them. “This results in more engaged participation. Even if the number is smaller, those who attend are genuinely interested,” Talita adds.

In 2023, 87% of families at the North Zone Hub rated the circles as excellent. “It was very helpful to reflect on some of my parenting habits—what I need to improve, how far I’ve come, and how important it is to raise children with both firmness and empathy,” shared Laize O. C. Santana, one of the mothers served by Instituto C.

Another participant, Nathalia Stephanie Felix de Morais, highlighted the importance of connection: “This meeting allowed me to express myself and listen to others who are going through—or have gone through—similar challenges.”

Topics Covered in Conversation Circles

At the Central Hub in 2023, the topics were:

• Ableism

• Violence against women

• The importance of play

• Home gardening

• Identity and representation

• Life planning and goal setting

Among these, Katia highlights ableism and the importance of play as especially powerful conversations that helped demystify common misconceptions. “Connecting with the stories, struggles, and victories of other families builds a sense of community and mutual support,” she emphasizes.

“I learned a lot from this conversation circle. I had heard about the importance of play from other professionals, but today I really understood. The way it was explained opened my eyes. From now on, I’ll see my son’s therapy with a different perspective,” shared Katiane de Fátima da Silva, reflecting on the circle about the importance of play.

At the North Zone Hub, Talita points out highlights like the circle on autism, which included a neuro-educator and drew great interest. Other impactful sessions covered women’s health and female sexuality, which sparked both curiosity and important conversations about often-taboo topics. “We conduct evaluations after each circle, giving families the opportunity to provide feedback and suggestions. Overall, the responses are positive. Families recognize that they’re not alone—and that shared experience fosters connection,” Talita concludes.

More Than Just a Meeting

In this way, it’s clear that Instituto C’s conversation circles are far more than casual gatherings—they are powerful spaces of connection, growth, and support. Whether at the Central Hub or the North Zone Hub, these sessions offer families the opportunity to reflect on relevant issues while being seen, heard, and embraced as part of a caring community. The active participation of families, even when dealing with difficult or sensitive subjects, highlights just how essential and impactful these moments are for well-being and holistic development—for everyone involved.

NGO – What Does It Mean?

Have you ever stopped to think about how an NGO works? The acronym stands for Non-Governmental Organization—a private, non-profit, and government-independent entity dedicated to social, cultural, environmental, humanitarian, educational, health-related, and other causes.

The Third Sector

An NGO is part of what we call the third sector—organizations that carry out activities for the benefit of society and without the goal of making a profit. This concept originated in the United States and classifies the first sector as the State, and the second sector as private entities with a profit motive.

According to Vera Oliveira, founder and executive director of Instituto C, the second and third sectors have very similar operational structures. “In terms of structure, there isn’t much difference between an NGO and a company. The main difference is what we ‘sell’—in our case, it’s social impact,” she said in an interview published on our blog in May 2022.

In fact, in 2022, Instituto C received the Best NGOs Award for the sixth consecutive time. This award honors the 100 best non-profit organizations in Brazil’s third sector. Since 2017, the annual celebration has become one of the most important in the sector, receiving over 1,000 applications in 2021 alone. Instituto C is part of a select group of seven Brazilian organizations to be featured on the list in every single edition of the award.

How Does an NGO Work?

The operation of an NGO is based on mobilizing financial, human, and material resources to achieve its goals and drive positive change in society. Generally, income comes from donations, sponsorships, and agreements with governments or other institutions.

A key part of any NGO is the volunteer work of people committed to its mission, which helps expand its reach. But beyond that, an NGO also has expenses to cover—such as taxes, salaries, suppliers, and rent.

At Instituto C, for example, there are nearly 30 salaried employees, all officially registered and receiving legally guaranteed benefits. According to data from the Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea), NGOs in Brazil formally employ around 3 million people.

One of Instituto C’s most important sources of income is the Nota Fiscal Paulista (São Paulo State Invoice Program). When you request your CPF (Individual Taxpayer Registry) on a purchase, the business is required to declare the sale and pay the corresponding tax to the government.

Initially, the program offered significant credit rewards to consumers. Over time, the government revised the parameters, shifting the benefit to support NGOs, reducing the amount received by consumers. Today, donations through Nota Fiscal Paulista account for 16% of Instituto C’s annual revenue.

The Role of NGOs

Independently, NGOs aim to complement government actions and address social needs that are unmet or require additional assistance. Their work spans a wide range of areas, including:

• Social assistance

• Education

• Health

• Environment

• Human rights

• Emergency humanitarian aid

Instituto C – Children, Care, Citizenship

Founded in 2011, Instituto C began by serving families in socially vulnerable situations with children suffering from chronic or severe illnesses. Since then, its projects have expanded to embrace other causes—such as early childhood development, with a focus on prevention and creating environments of care, protection, and stimulation to ensure healthy growth.

In 2021, Instituto C merged its three core projects—PAF, Educação em Rede, and Primeira Infância—into a comprehensive program that provides holistic solutions to the diverse social demands faced by vulnerable families, delivered through Social Service Hubs across São Paulo.

Families in the program are supported by a multidisciplinary team in the fields of psychology, education, nutrition, income generation, and social services, who work together to address needs and prioritize the families’ path to autonomy.

The Importance of NGOs

NGOs are essential change agents, mobilizing resources and efforts for crucial and often overlooked causes. They complement public services, meet specific societal needs, defend rights, and contribute to building a more inclusive, aware, and sustainable society.

“Instituto C delivers social impact—and that product is returned to society. Everyone benefits,” said Vera.