Filipa had her hair and eyebrows. A cut finger. He suffered a series of criminal acts over 25 years of an abusive relationship. “We can’t keep silent. We have to talk, show and have to accept being helped. We don’t have to be ashamed of anything,” says the victim.
Just over a year ago, Filipa had long hair. By choice, for taste, for care with the personal image. But in March last year, Filipa had her hair and shaped eyebrows. It was not for taste, it was a barbaric act of domestic violence.
“He was always very jealous (…) at the beginning, for me, being jealous was a sign of love,” recalls Filipa Gonçalves, also recalling the blackmail that the old boyfriend did.
“Dating is often the first great moment of aggression. Because it is marked by obsessive, unhealthy, control, dominance and people in the relationship of dating even somehow devaluing,” says Daniel Cotrim of the Portuguese Association for Supporting the Victim.
Dating has given way to marital experience. Filipa was believed that under the same ceiling the jealousy would give way to greater confidence. But it only got worse.
“I was always waiting for the moment he was fine to leave him, because he was barely afraid of him.”
Filipa’s former partner has been sentenced and is in prison, where he will serve the various crimes committed.
