Brasília, June 23, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - Combatting violence against women is one of the priorities of the Special Secretariat of Policies for Women. Minister Nilcéia Freire informed that she intends to build more shelters for victims of violence and conduct a study to adapt Brazilian laws to handle the question of domestic violence. Her office will also endeavor to expand and equip the police precincts assigned to serve women.

Suely Guimarães, a psychologist from the University of Brasília (UnB), believes that if women who suffer aggression had someplace to go, many of them would abandon their violent partners.

A recent study carried out in Rio de Janeiro by the non-governmental organization, Promundo Institute, found that one in every three women in Brazil has been the victim of physical violence committed by her mate. The study shows that 53.1% of the women who suffered serious sexual attacks had lived with their aggressors for more than ten years.

The study revealed that 66% of the women who were victims of aggression had only fundamental school education and that both they and their aggressors do work that requires little qualification.

Reporter: Irene Lôbo
Translator: David Silberstein