Portuguese 
Spanish 
The fight against femicide continues to be one of the greatest challenges for public safety and the protection of women’s rights in Brazil. Although laws, protective measures, and public policies have advanced in recent years, many victims still face situations of violence that evolve into fatal crimes. In this scenario, researchers and institutions have started investing in new strategies capable of identifying risk situations before they turn into tragedies.
In Santa Catarina, an unprecedented initiative seeks to anticipate these signs. The project aims to develop a scientific tool capable of identifying factors associated with the risk of femicide, allowing authorities and professionals in the protection network to act preventively. According to a report published by ND Mais on June 16, 2026, the research is conducted by Professor Dabney Evans from Emory University, in partnership with the Santa Catarina Court of Justice (TJSC) and the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC).
What is femicide
Femicide corresponds to the murder of a woman motivated by reasons related to gender. In many cases, the crime represents the most extreme stage of a continuous cycle of domestic, psychological, physical, sexual, or patrimonial violence.
Law No. 13,104, enacted in 2015, included femicide in the Brazilian Penal Code as a qualifying circumstance of homicide and classified it as a heinous crime. Additionally, the legislation recognizes that this type of violence stems from inequality, discrimination, and abusive relationships built over time.
-
Telescope Launched 80 Billion km from Earth Could Use the Sun as a Giant Lens to Magnify Exoplanets, Potentially Revealing Continents, Oceans, and Signs of Life
-
Australian Researcher Turns Discarded Coffee Grounds into Eco-Friendly Bricks with 80% Less Pollution and Double the Strength Required by Law
-
Brazil Sets New LED Bulb Efficiency Standards to Save Energy for 14 Million Homes by 2028
-
Actor Builds Portable Sound Booth in 25 Days with Limited Budget, Sells 55 Units and Earns $3,000 Monthly
According to the National Council of Justice (CNJ), understanding the factors that precede these crimes is essential to strengthen public prevention policies and expand the protection of women.
How the new tool developed in Santa Catarina emerged
The project began in December 2025 and brings together Brazilian and foreign researchers with experience in gender violence.
According to ND Mais, Professor Dabney Evans has been researching domestic violence in Brazil for about ten years. From this knowledge, a central question for the study emerged: how to identify differences between an aggressor who commits violence and another who may evolve into femicide?
The proposal aims to answer this question using scientific evidence and data obtained during the research.
Additionally, the project seeks to remove the exclusive responsibility from the victim to perceive the risk and transfer part of this preventive role to the State.
How the tool should work
The researchers intend to build a risk scale based on behavioral, historical, and social factors identified throughout the study.
For this, the project uses a methodology divided into different stages.
Initially, specialists analyze approximately 300 risk factors found in the international scientific literature. Then, professionals who work directly in combating violence against women evaluate these indicators. Subsequently, the research also considers information obtained from aggressors and those convicted of femicide.
According to ND Mais, this process will gradually reduce the analyzed factors until reaching the indicators considered most relevant to identify higher-risk situations.
The goal is to prevent deaths before they happen
Unlike other tools currently used, the new instrument does not intend to only analyze already consummated cases.
The main objective is to identify warning signs while there is still a possibility of intervention.
In this way, public security professionals, the Judiciary, and the protection network can adopt preventive measures more quickly.
Among these measures are the reinforcement of protective measures, closer monitoring of victims, and monitoring of cases considered critical.
According to the researchers, the earlier this identification occurs, the greater the chances of preventing new deaths.
Science already knows several risk factors
National and international research shows that femicide rarely happens suddenly.
In most cases, there are prior behaviors that indicate an increased risk.
These include recurring episodes of domestic violence, constant threats, stalking, excessive control of the victim’s routine, social isolation, non-compliance with protective measures, and criminal history.
However, experts are still trying to understand which factors differentiate aggressors who continue to practice violence from those who commit murder.
This is precisely one of the main contributions expected from the research developed in Santa Catarina.
The importance of preventive action
Experts state that public prevention policies tend to yield more effective results than exclusively reactive actions.
When authorities can identify critical situations in advance, the possibilities of interrupting the cycle of violence increase.
Moreover, judicial decisions can occur more quickly when responsible bodies have technical information demonstrating the level of risk involved.
In this context, tools based on scientific evidence can strengthen the work already carried out by specialized police stations, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Judiciary, social assistance, and health services.
Technology and data analysis strengthen the protection of women
The use of technology in public safety is continuously growing.
In Santa Catarina, for example, the State Department of Public Safety (SSP-SC) itself has already announced the development of a predictive model based on artificial intelligence to support the fight against violence against women. The system will use historical data on incidents, protective measures, recidivism, and other indicators to assist authorities in decision-making.
Although the tool presented by TJSC follows a different methodology and has a scientific character, both initiatives demonstrate how data analysis and research can contribute to more efficient public policies.
The numbers reinforce the need for prevention
Femicide remains a serious social problem in Brazil.
According to data cited in the research, the Brazilian Public Safety Forum recorded an average of four women victims of femicide per day in 2025. Furthermore, studies indicate that thousands of women suffer physical, psychological, or sexual violence every year.
These numbers show that expanding prevention capacity remains a priority for public institutions and civil society organizations.
The State takes a more active role in risk identification
One of the most innovative aspects of the research is changing the traditional logic of prevention.
For many years, much of the responsibility fell on the victim themselves, who needed to recognize the danger signs and seek help.
Now, the proposal aims to increase the State’s participation in this process.
According to Michelle Hugill, a TJSC employee and research member, the tool could support professionals responsible for assisting women, allowing for quicker responses in critical situations.
The future of femicide prevention
The research is still in development and is expected to progress over the coming months.
Until the studies are concluded, experts will continue analyzing risk factors, validating scientific information, and refining the methodology used.
If the results confirm the tool’s effectiveness, the project could serve as a reference for other Brazilian states and even for international initiatives aimed at combating violence against women.
More than creating a new technological tool, the proposal seeks to strengthen prevention, expand the integrated action of public institutions, and save lives. By combining science, research, and cooperation between universities and justice system bodies, the initiative demonstrates how knowledge can contribute to building more efficient public policies and offering greater protection to women in vulnerable situations.
