A member of the Maria da Penha patrol visits a woman who says she was repeatedly hit by her-ex husband in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, September 25, 2019. Reuters has not been able to verify the details of the alleged attack. Brazil introduced tough penalties for domestic abuse in 2006 with the Maria Da Penha law ? named after a woman left paraplegic after being shot by her husband in her sleep. However, it was not until 2015 that Brazil officially recognized femicide as a crime ? years after most other countries in the region, including Colombia, Chile, Argentina and Mexico. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Fernanda Fernandes, the head of the police unit Specialized Delegation for Support of Women (DEAM) investigates the death of Taylaine Alves, a 19-year-old mother of two, at the police headquarters in Duque de Caxias, near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 3, 2019. Police said Alves was severely burned in an attack by her boyfriend and later died in a hospital from her injuries. Alves's boyfriend was charged with the killing and is in prison awaiting trial. His lawyer from the public defender's office declined to comment. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Vanessa Lima, 34, who says she was hit and psychologically abused by her husband, waits to be examined by a police officer in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, December 9, 2019. Lima's husband has been charged and is awaiting trial. Lima's husband will be subpoenaed to present his defense, according to court documents. A lawyer from the public defender's office has not yet been assigned to the case. Reuters was unable to verify the details of the abuse described by Lima. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Fabiana Antunes, 39, holds drawings sent to her by her former partner showing a woman who looks like her being killed by a man holding a cleaver, at her home in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 2, 2020. In May, Antunes says her former partner struck her in the stomach during a fight and she contacted the police. The judge in the case issued a restraining order against Antunes' ex-partner, who has moved out. "The pandemic - the fact of being stuck at home - made everything worse," Antunes said. Aldefran Melo da Silva, her ex-partner, said Antunes had previously been proud to feature in his artistic work. He confirmed the restraining order had been issued but denied wrongdoing. "We had normal marital discussions, but without any physical or verbal aggression," he said. "I never hit her." REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Fernanda Fernandes, the head of the police unit Specialized Delegation for Support of Women (DEAM) investigates the death of Taylaine Alves, a 19-year-old mother of two, at the police headquarters in Duque de Caxias, near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 3, 2019. Police said Alves was severely burned in an attack by her boyfriend and later died in a hospital from her injuries. Alves's boyfriend was charged with the killing and is in prison awaiting trial. His lawyer from the public defender's office declined to comment. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Police officers from the Specialized Delegation for Support of Women (DEAM) unit, detain a man suspected of having assaulted a woman in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 2, 2020. Reuters was not able to determine if charges were brought against him. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Paulo Cesar da Conceicao, who runs CR Homem, a rehabilitation center for men involved in domestic violence, leads a group session in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, October 3, 2019. Conceicao said that, in group sessions, his team guides conversations to help men see their own responsibility for domestic abuse: "The men arrive in the group very closed and resistant, and we try to break that down." REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Daniela Gasparin, 38, who said she lost her hand and suffered 11 stab wounds when her former partner attacked her with a knife on a bus, sits outside her home in Boituva, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, June 5, 2019. Gasparin's ex-boyfriend was convicted of attempted murder, and his appeal was denied. Gasparin thanked God for her survival. "When I came back from surgery ... many people came to congratulate me. They said I was a warrior, because it was a big battle for me to survive." REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Daniela Gasparin, 38, who said she lost her hand and suffered 11 stab wounds when her former partner attacked her with a knife on a bus, laughs with her grandson Pyetro at her son's house in Boituva, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, June 7, 2019. Gasparin's ex-boyfriend was convicted of attempted murder, and his appeal was denied. Gasparin thanked God for her survival. "When I came back from surgery ... many people came to congratulate me. They said I was a warrior, because it was a big battle for me to survive." REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Daniela Gasparin, 38, who said she lost her hand and suffered 11 stab wounds when her former partner attacked her with a knife on a bus, attends an evangelical service in Boituva, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, June 7, 2019. Gasparin's ex-boyfriend was convicted of attempted murder, and his appeal was denied. Gasparin thanked God for her survival. "When I came back from surgery ... many people came to congratulate me. They said I was a warrior, because it was a big battle for me to survive." REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Daniela Gasparin, 38, who said she lost her hand and suffered 11 stab wounds when her former partner attacked her with a knife on a bus, leaves her home to go to church in Boituva, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, June 7, 2019. Gasparin's ex-boyfriend was convicted of attempted murder, and his appeal was denied. Gasparin thanked God for her survival. "When I came back from surgery ... many people came to congratulate me. They said I was a warrior, because it was a big battle for me to survive." REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Police military officer Daniel Deglmann, who is suspected of assaulting his wife Monique Goncalves, is escorted by officers as they arrive at the Specialized Delegation for Support of Women (DEAM) police unit in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 23, 2019. Deglmann has been charged and is awaiting trial. He denies the accusations against him. Deglmann's lawyer, Marcos Espinola, said he couldn't provide more details about the case because it is sealed but said his client would be found innocent. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Debora Goncalves Linhares, the mother of Monique Goncalves, 23, is accompanied by officers as she arrives at her daughter's former home to collect her belongings in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, September 25, 2019. Police arrested Monique's husband after she said she was imprisoned, drugged and tortured by him over several weeks. "When I saw my daughter in that way ... injured, with punch marks all over her body and psychologically abused, I thought I was going to lose her," Linhares said. Deglmann has been charged and is awaiting trial. He denies the accusations against him. Deglmann's lawyer, Marcos Espinola, said he couldn't provide more details about the case because it is sealed but said his client would be found innocent. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Debora Goncalves Linhares, the mother of Monique Goncalves, 23, is accompanied by officers as she collects belongings at her daughter's former home in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil September 25, 2019. Police arrested Monique Goncalves' husband after she said she was imprisoned, drugged and tortured by him over several weeks. "When I saw my daughter in that way... injured, with punch marks all over her body and psychologically abused, I thought I was going to lose her," Linhares said. Deglmann has been charged and is awaiting trial. He denies the accusations against him. Deglmann's lawyer, Marcos Espinola, said he couldn't provide more details about the case because it is sealed but said his client would be found innocent. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Debora Goncalves Linhares comforts a friend at the entrance of the Specialized Delegation for Support of Women (DEAM) unit, in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 1, 2021. "I became an activist after my daughter was almost a victim of femicide," said Linhares. Health workers often call Linhares when a victim arrives at the hospital. "I am doing my best, when a female victim of domestic violence appears. I immediately go with her to support her with anything she needs and sometimes take her to DEAM." REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Vanessa Lima, 34, who says she was hit and psychologically abused by her husband, waits to be examined by a police officer in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, December 9, 2019. Lima's husband has been charged and is awaiting trial. Lima's husband will be subpoenaed to present his defense, according to court documents. A lawyer from the public defender's office has not yet been assigned to the case. Reuters was unable to verify the details of the abuse described by Lima. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Relatives of Taylaine Alves, a 19-year-old mother of two, stand around Alves's coffin as they mourn during her funeral in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, September 6, 2019. Police said Alves was severely burned in an attack by her boyfriend and later died in a hospital from her injuries. Alves's boyfriend was charged with the killing and is in prison awaiting trial. His lawyer from the public defender's office declined to comment. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Thais Alves, the sister of Taylaine Alves, a 19-year-old mother of two, shows a photo of Taylaine on her mobile phone to Reuters during Taylaine's funeral, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 6, 2019. Police said Alves was severely burned in an attack by her boyfriend and later died in a hospital from her injuries. Alves's boyfriend was charged with the killing and is in prison awaiting trial. His lawyer from the public defender's office declined to comment. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

X-ray images of a woman who said she was punched in the face and body by her ex-boyfriend, are pictured at Hospital Municipal Dr. Moacyr Rodrigues do Carmo, a hospital in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, October 13, 2019. Reuters was unable to verify the details of the case. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Jozilene Pereira Alves talks to a police officer about her daughter Taylaine Alves, a 19-year-old mother of two, at the police station unit Specialized Delegation for Support of Women (DEAM) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 3, 2019. Police said Alves was severely burned in an attack by her boyfriend and later died in a hospital from her injuries. "She didn't listen to me when I told her not to stick with that guy," said Alves. "She didn't deserve this, my poor daughter." Alves's boyfriend was charged with the killing and is in prison awaiting trial. His lawyer from the public defender's office declined to comment. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Jose Dias, a police officer from the Specialized Delegation for Support of Women (DEAM) unit, speaks to a woman reporting a case of domestic violence, in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 18, 2020. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Densso Simoes dos Santos, 24, shows his tattoo for a photograph, after attending a group session at CR Homem, a rehabilitation center for men involved in domestic violence, run by Paulo Cesar da Conceicao, in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, October 3, 2019. Conceicao said that, in group sessions, his team guides conversations to help men see their own responsibility for domestic abuse: "The men arrive in the group very closed and resistant, and we try to break that down." Men are referred to CR Homem after being convicted of domestic violence. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

A police officer from the Specialized Delegation for Support of Women (DEAM) unit, attends an incident where a man is suspected of having assaulted a woman in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil February 24, 2021. The unit in Duque de Caixas handled 4,121 cases of domestic violence last year, the most of any DEAM team in Rio state. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES 

Favelas are seen in Duque de Caxias, in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil March 3, 2021. The Specialized Delegation for Support of Women (DEAM) unit in Duque de Caixas handled 4,121 cases of domestic violence last year, the most of any DEAM team in Rio state. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares SEARCH "BRAZIL FEMICIDE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. THE IMAGES SHOULD ONLY BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE STORY - NO STAND-ALONE USES