Comparative law notes
In the Brazilian legal system, "domestic violence" has a broader connotation than the English definition. "Domestic violence" under Brazilian law is a legal concept that serves different purposes: to impose harsher punishment on offenders who perpetrate certain offenses set out in the Brazilian Penal Code; to ensure women access to specific services and protections established by law (especially the Maria da Penha Act, a statute designed to curb domestic violence against women).
