Chamber approves package of projects of interest to the women’s bench

The plenary of the Chamber of Deputies approved on Wednesday night (6) around 6 priority bills from the women’s bench, in reference to the 16 days of activism to end violence against women, which ends on the 10th of December.

One of the projects, authored by deputy Helder Salomão (PT-ES), Bill 9905/18, increases the penalty for bodily injury committed in the context of domestic violence. The matter that will be sent to the Senate establishes that the penalty will be increased from 1/3 to half also if the injury is committed for reasons of female sex or is committed in the physical or virtual presence of the victim’s descendant or ascendant (children or fathers and mothers, for example).

The bill that considers crimes committed among military personnel in the context of domestic or family violence as common crimes was also approved. Currently, the Military Penal Code considers a military crime, in times of peace, to be one committed by an active soldier against a soldier in the same situation. In this way, aggression against a wife or partner is judged by the Military Court, whether committed in any environment and for any reason.

With the project, the trial will pass to the Common Court when the crime occurs within the domestic unit or within the family, according to definitions in the Maria da Penha Law.

Another project approved was the one that gives women temporary custody of the child during the breastfeeding period. According to the text, in cases of separation, if there is no agreement between the parents, unilateral custody of the newborn child will preferably remain with the mother during the breastfeeding period, maintaining the father’s right to visit the child and enjoy their company, according to agreement with the mother or whatever is determined by the judge.

Among the other proposals approved this evening, there is the PL that allows the judge to decree, ex officio, preventive detention in crimes typified in the Maria da Penha Law, adjusting the wording of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Decree-law 3.6898/41). An ex officio arrest occurs when it is not requested by the parties, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the plaintiff or assistant to the prosecution, or on behalf of the police chief. Plus the bill that removes mitigating factors from the Penal Code for those convicted of crimes of sexual violence against women if the perpetrator was under 21 years old or over 70 years old at the time.

Assistance for drug users

The Chamber also approved the bill that creates a specific assistance program for women who use and depend on alcohol. The matter will be sent to the Senate.

Approved with a favorable opinion from congresswoman Chris Tonietto (PL-RJ), Bill 2880/23, by congressman Captain Alberto Neto (PL-AM), provides that assistance must be multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary. The specific program must be created within the scope of the National System of Public Policies on Drugs (Sisnad), contained in Law 11,343/06.

This program must follow principles such as adopting differentiated care and social reintegration strategies, defining an individualized therapeutic project and providing adequate guidance to drug users or addicts regarding the harmful consequences of drug use, even if occasional.