VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN TOCANTINS: ANALYSIS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND FEMICIDE CRIMES IN THE POST-PANDEMIC PERIOD

Abstract

The fight against gender-based violence remains one of the most serious forms of denial of fundamental rights in Brazil, with worrying rates persisting despite recent legal advances. In Tocantins, cases of gender-motivated killings and domestic aggressions are structural phenomena, intensified by cultural and socioeconomic conditions. This study aimed to examine the evolution of such offenses between 2022 and 2024, focusing on the effects of the post-COVID-19 pandemic context on their incidence, recurring motives, and institutional mechanisms created for victim protection. The research adopted a bibliographic and documentary design, guided by the hypothetical-deductive method, and considered as central references Law No. 11.340/2006, known as the Maria da Penha legislation, and Law No. 13.104/2015, which classified femicide as a criminal type. Data were collected from official reports issued by the Public Security Secretariat of Tocantins (SSP/TO) and analyzed through descriptive statistics combined with content analysis. Findings reveal that, even with consolidated legal frameworks, the rates remain high, underscoring the urgency of more effective public policies and the expansion of specialized support networks in the interior regions of the state.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2025.036-018