Experts comment on the growth of feminicide among black women in Brazil

Geordana Nataly Sales, only 20 years old, was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend.

September 12, 2021

02:09

Priscilla Peixoto – from Cenarium

MANAUS – Experts consulted this Saturday, 11, comment on the growing increase of feminicide among black women in Brazil. A survey by the Brazilian Forum for Public Safety (FBSP) and the Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea), known as the “Atlas of Violence”, points out that between the years 2009 and 2019, 50,056 thousand women were killed by their own partner.

The 2% increase occurs in relation to the murder of black women, which were 2,468 thousand victims in the year 2019 against 2,419 thousand in 2009. According to researcher and professor of the Social Work course at the Federal University of Amazonas (Ufam) Lidiany Cavalcante, several factors contribute to such statistics. “The cultural and historical traits ensured by misogyny, patriarchy, and racism foster many crimes in the Brazilian reality”, points out the specialist.

The professor points out that among the victims black women are more vulnerable targets, not only among cissexual women, but also among transsexual women. Traces of violence that, according to Cavalcante, were intensified during social isolation. “With the pandemic, violence against women increased considerably, since the process of distancing and isolation, many became vulnerable for longer, especially in front of partners and ex-partners”, she recalls.

More than 50,000 black women have been killed by their partners in the last ten years (Reproduction/Internet)

Underreporting

The sum of these cases portrays what she calls a “silent catastrophe”, because, according to Lidiany, if the police inquiries do not point out the perspective of feminicide, it will make the work of the Public Ministry more difficult. The lawyer, journalist and member of the Movimento Negro de Manaus, Luciana Santos, also expresses an analysis that goes against Lidiane’s position.

“If we take not only feminicides, but violence against women in general, the cases against black women are higher than those against white and yellow women. These numbers are indicative, but not the total reality, because many times the registration of the victim’s color in the police report is not done correctly. This is common in police stations in all states”, says Luciana.

When it comes to violence against black women, the activist points out that it is not possible to separate gender, race and social class, which, because they are related issues, together increase the chance of black women being included as one of the biggest victims of violence that results in death.

“Considered one of the most vulnerable parts of the population, black women are the biggest victims precisely because they are at the bottom of the pyramid. Vulnerable for simply being women, for being black and automatically experiencing situations of racism. The poorer they are, the more susceptible they will be to the margin of state protection”, states Luciana.

In 2020, two out of three victims of feminicide were black women (Reproduction/Getty Images)

Specificities

The lawyer takes the opportunity to point out specific vulnerabilities and how laws need to be prepared and formulated to understand these demands. She cites as an example the Maria da Penha Law, which completed 15 years in August. The law is considered by the United Nations (UN) one of the three most advanced legislations in the world in the fight against crimes against women.

“Maria da Penha is one of the best legislations in the world, but can it cover all the needs of black and also indigenous women? Because they have certain specificities that are not the same if you think of a white, upper middle class woman. We have to think about how public policies are being made, and maybe we need to turn a little more to these minorities”, explains the activist.

Case Geordana

The death of young Geordana Nataly Sales, only 20 years old, stabbed to death in the early morning of September 1, in the city of Ananindeua, Pará, is an example that joins the list of black women who had their lives brutally cut short.

The crime happened during the early morning hours and, according to information, Geoardana’s ex-boyfriend, identified as Lúcio Magno Quadros, did not accept the end of their four-year relationship. At the moment of the encounter, he allegedly stabbed Geordana. Magno was arrested in flagrante by the Civil Police of Pará on the same day he committed the crime.

Geordana Nataly Sales, only 20 years old, stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend (Reproduction/Internet)

Data

Also according to the Atlas of Violence 2021, in ten years, the percentage of possible murders against white, yellow and indigenous women decreased 26.9% in the period, presenting a drop from 1,636 to 1,196 cases. Data from the 15th Brazilian Yearbook of Public Safety point out that in 2020, two out of every three victims of feminicide were black women, which represented 61.8% of the deaths, followed by 36.5% white, 0.9% yellow, and 0.9% indigenous.

It is worth noting that the data for the year 2020 addresses the quantity of official notifications of violence against girls and women during the Covid-19 pandemic period. At the time, the state of Mato Grosso was first in the ranking, with an average of 3.6 deaths per 100 thousand women; followed by Roraima and Mato Grosso do Sul, with three feminicides per 100 thousand women.

The lowest rates were in the Federal District, with 0.4 deaths per 100,000 women; followed by Rio Grande do Norte, with 0.7 per 100,000; São Paulo and Amazonas, with 0.8 deaths per 100,000 women. According to data published on the official website of the Public Safety Secretariat of the State of Amazonas, (SSP), from January to July this year, five cases of feminicides were committed in Manaus, however, the data did not specify how many victims were black or not.