Lawyer victim of attack in Curitiba receives protective measure based on the Maria da Penha Law

After being the victim of an attack, recorded last Saturday (29), in Curitiba, motivated by her professional performance in a child support action, lawyer Kelen Cristina Ribas da Silva received an urgent protective measure.

The decision was granted by the Judiciary on Sunday (30), one day after the attack. The service recognized a “concrete and current risk to the lawyer’s physical and psychological integrity.”

It follows the understanding of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) that the Maria da Penha Law can be applied in cases of violence against women motivated by gender issues, even when there is no family, domestic or emotional relationship between the victim and the aggressor.

It is the first time that this has happened in Paraná in the context of law, according to the Brazilian Bar Association - Paraná Section (OAB-PR).

Security cameras recorded the attack suffered by the lawyer. On the day, Kelen was preparing to leave the garage when Juliano Muniz dos Santos – former partner of a client she represented in a child support action – arrived at the scene with another vehicle. He put his head out the window and accelerated, until he hit the lawyer's car. Watch the video above.

"I felt a strong impact that threw my car forward. Even with the handbrake on, my car was thrown forward. I hit my head, hurt my neck... And I didn't understand what had happened", recalls the lawyer.

According to the lawyer, the threats began in July, after the court ordered Juliano to pay child support for the three children he has with Kelen's client.

According to the professional, the man sent intimidating messages, went to her house and, on the eve of the attack, went to the office where she works.

After the episode, Kelen filed a police report and contacted the OAB-PR. It was the entity that filed the request for a protective measure under the Maria da Penha Law.

As the request was fulfilled and the attacker was notified, Juliano is prohibited from approaching Kelen or contacting her by any means.

"It is a very emblematic case, including being the first woman lawyer in Paraná to receive the protective measure based on this understanding from the Supreme Court. This understanding is fundamental, because women are able to have protection from the State, legal protection in any and all situations of violence that they may suffer", argues Aline Andriolli, president of the Commission of Women Lawyers of the OAB-PR.

The Civil Police registered the case as attempted simple murder and coercion during the process. Juliano Muniz dos Santos does not have a lawyer.

Juliano Muniz dos Santos purposely hit the car of the lawyer who represents the mother of his children in a child support case — Photo: Reproduction

In August, the Federal Supreme Court decided to expand and guarantee the application of urgent protective measures, provided for in the Maria da Penha Law, for cases of gender-based violence against women outside the domestic, family or romantic relationship context.

With the change, measures can be applied in situations such as harassment, stalking and kidnapping, when it is recognized that the act of violence was based on gender, regardless of the intimate relationship of affection.

The Maria da Penha Law is the main Brazilian legislation to prevent, punish and eradicate domestic and family violence against women. Sanctioned in August 2006, the rule was named in honor of pharmacist Maria da Penha Maia Fernandes, who survived two attempted femicides committed by her ex-husband.

"Sometimes, women victims of violence suffer in other environments that are not necessarily an environment of domestic violence, within a private space. There are, for example, situations in which a neighbor can suddenly commit an act, a co-worker can commit an act, in short, any other situation that is not an intimate relationship, or that is not a relationship of domestic and family violence", explains Andriolli.