On July 14, Giovanna Úbida, Leme Project Leader, gave the lecture “Violence Against Women: What Scientific Evidence Can Teach the Police” as part of the Higher Police Course – Specialization in Public Security Management, offered by the “Dr. Coriolano Nogueira Cobra” Police Academy (ACADEPOL) of the Civil Police of the State of São Paulo. The activity was part of the specialization program aimed at training police chiefs and other public security professionals.

The lecture presented research findings on violence against women and discussed how the production of evidence can contribute to improving police practices and the formulation of public policies. Throughout the presentation, Giovanna highlighted the importance of understanding the specificities of domestic violence and intimate partner violence, distinguishing these phenomena from other forms of lethal violence and demonstrating how these distinctions should guide the actions of public security institutions.

Topics covered included the challenges of measuring violence against women and interpreting different indicators used to monitor the phenomenon. The presentation discussed how police records, victimization surveys, mortality data, and information from specialized services address different questions and should therefore be analyzed in a complementary manner when developing diagnoses and public policies.

Another focus of the lecture was the dynamics of domestic violence and its progression over time. Drawing on evidence from the scientific literature, Giovanna highlighted that femicide is often preceded by recurring episodes of control, threats, psychological violence, and physical violence, reinforcing the importance of early identification of risk situations and preventive action by institutions responsible for protecting victims.

The presentation also brought together research findings on the effects of different public policies aimed at addressing violence against women. Evidence was discussed regarding the impacts of the Maria da Penha Law, Specialized Police Stations for Assistance to Women (DEAMs), and integrated victim support services, highlighting how institutional specialization, coordination among different agencies, and offender accountability can contribute to changing behaviors, increasing victims’ trust in the justice system, and reducing lethal violence against women.

The lecture concluded by emphasizing that the production of evidence does not replace the experience of professionals working on the front lines of public security, but rather enhances their ability to understand patterns, evaluate outcomes, and improve prevention and protection strategies.