Biochemical pharmacist Maria da Penha Maia Fernandes became a symbol of the confrontation of violence against women by exposing, in 1998, at the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights of the OAS (Organization of American States), the omission of the Brazilian state in the face of the violence it had suffered.
In 1983, Maria da Penha was the victim of double attempted murder by then -husband Marco Antonio Heredia Viveros. The 1st trial of the case was only made in 1991, 8 years after she shot in the back that left her paraplegic. At the time, the aggressor was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but managed to wait for the trial in freedom, with the appeal of the sentence. In 1996, he was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months, but managed to get rid of the sentence, for procedural irregularities.
Given the complaint, in 2001 the OAS Commission held Brazil responsible for the violation of the rights of Maria da Penha and recommended the improvement of the legislation. International pressure has contributed to the creation of Law 11,340, which has been enhanced over the years and was already informally known by the name of the pharmacist.
The officialization of the denomination was proposed by Congress in the deputy Laura Carneiro (PSD-RJ). In the Senate, the bill, with a favorable opinion of Senator Flávio Arns (PSB-PR) at the Human Rights Commission (CDH).
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