Institutional overview of group work with men perpetrators of violence against women in Brazil

Abstract

The Maria da Penha Law assists male perpetrators of violence in rehabilitation centers translated, in practice, into group activities. This study offers a national overview of these actions by conducting a literature review and bibliographical and documental research. Groups were identified by searches on LILACS/VHL, MEDLINE/PUBMED, COCHRANE LIBRARY, EMBASE, the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (BDTD), and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel’s (CAPES) journal portal, published maps and national listing of initiatives with male perpetrators of violence, and a web search. Of the 309 groups identified, 271 answered an electronically sent questionnaire from April to May 2021. Results draw an overview showing the active institutions; the way men are referred to them; the existence of networking and approximation to social movements; information about facilitating teams; goals; evaluation methodology; and the main results and difficulties highlighted by these groups. This study also confirmed gaps, such as the absence of a national public policy that welcomes and encourages local organizations; facilitators’ lack of ongoing training; the absence or scarcity of financial contribution; and especially the fragile evaluation and monitoring of activities.