Gender-sensitive practices in the criminal justice system

reflections based on the Re.nata Project and the experiences of femicide survivors

Abstract

https://doi.org/10.1590/2179-8966/2025/85845

Attempted femicide causes deep and lasting trauma in the lives of survivors, who face numerous challenges when seeking support and accessing the justice system. The Re.nata Project, an initiative aimed at supporting direct and indirect victims of femicide, stands out as an alternative to the revictimizing practices frequently observed within the justice system, due to its multidisciplinary approach centered on the specific needs of victims. However, there remains a gap in understanding how such good practices effectively contribute to the recovery of survivors, what limitations are encountered, and how initiatives like this can be replicated, improved, or integrated into structured public-judicial policies. This study addresses the need to deepen the analysis of the Re.nata Project as a potential model for institutionalized support to survivors. To explore this gap, the article analyzes how the Re.nata Project impacts the experiences of women when accessing the justice system. Grounded in feminist criminology, the study adopts a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews with women assisted by the project, employing content analysis as the data analysis technique. The results indicate that the Re.nata Project contributes to mitigating the structural and social limitations faced by victims by providing qualified listening, referrals, and continuous support. Its multidisciplinary and gender-sensitive approach had a positive impact on the participants' trajectories, promoting legal, psychological, and social assistance, fostering autonomy, and enhancing their sense of security. Nonetheless, the research also identified challenges, such as the lack of institutionalization, dependence on the voluntary engagement of the public prosecutor leading the initiative, and difficulties in accessing specialized services within the public network. The study concludes that initiatives like Re.nata have the potential to be consolidated as effective public-judicial policies, provided they are supported by institutional measures that ensure their continuity, intersectoral coordination, and commitment to gender mainstreaming.