Mato Grosso do Sul Sees Rise in Domestic Violence, 19.4% Increase in Assaults
Mato Grosso do Sul experienced a significant increase in key indicators of violence against women in 2025 compared to the previous year, according to the 20th Brazilian Yearbook of Public Security. The state recorded a 19.4% rise in intentional bodily injury within domestic violence contexts and a 4.9% overall increase in analyzed indicators. Approximately 96,000 cases of non-compliance with protective measures were also registered. Nationally, intentional bodily injury in domestic violence cases grew by 2.6% in 2025, reaching 261.7 occurrences per 100,000 women, equating to an assault every two minutes. While threats and bodily harm saw increases, other crimes presented different trends. Stalking, or persecution crimes, increased by 30.1% nationwide, affecting 113.3 per 100,000 women, totaling 123,871 victims. Mato Grosso do Sul, however, was an exception with a 7.8% decrease in stalking cases. Psychological violence also saw a national increase of 16.9%, but Mato Grosso do Sul reported the largest drop among states at 44.5%. Regarding sexual violence, the state ranked fifth nationally for rape rates, with seven of the top eight states located in the Legal Amazon. In 2025, nearly nine out of ten rape victims nationally were women, a dynamic often linked to sexual control and domination. For women, rape rates were 16.5 per 100,000, and rape of a vulnerable person was 51.3 per 100,000. Resources for reporting include calling 190 for immediate police assistance or 180 for the Federal Women's Support Center, which provides information and directs victims to specialized services like the Women's Attendant Police Stations (Deam).
The data from Mato Grosso do Sul highlights a concerning rise in domestic violence, particularly intentional bodily injury, despite national trends showing a slower growth rate for this specific crime. The state's significant decrease in psychological violence and stalking, contrasting with national increases, suggests localized factors or reporting variations may be at play. The disproportionate representation of women as victims of sexual violence nationally underscores persistent societal issues of control and domination. While reporting mechanisms like 190 and 180 are available, the rising numbers indicate a critical need to examine the effectiveness of prevention strategies, support services, and the enforcement of protective measures within the state. Future efforts should focus on understanding the specific drivers of increased domestic violence in Mato Grosso do Sul and reinforcing systemic interventions to ensure women's safety and access to justice.
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