In Brazil, the National Congress is debating a reform to the Penal Code that would impose up to 8 years in prison on those who file false assault reports, directly targeting the misuse of the Maria da Penha Law in custody disputes or personal conflicts. Its backers argue that unfounded accusations overwhelm the judicial system and destroy the lives of innocent men. But human rights organizations warn that the measure carries an invisible cost: fear. If a battered woman fears she may be unable to prove the assault and end up imprisoned, she simply will not report it. For them, the law does not stop abuse, it silences it.
