Abstract:
The Maria da Penha Law (Law 11.340/2006) has existed for nearly two decades, yet women with intellectual disabilities who are victims of domestic violence find no real protection in it. This article investigates why the law fails for this specific group. The research, conducted through in-depth bibliographic review between 2015 and 2024, identifies concrete barriers: disarticulated public services, unprepared professionals, delays in protective measures, lack of physical and communicational accessibility, and complete absence of public policies aimed at these women. The problem is not the law itself, but how institutions apply it. Women with intellectual disabilities face double discrimination: first for being women in situations of violence; second for having intellectual disabilities. This intersectional vulnerability is not merely the sum of two problems—it is a multiplication of reinforcing barriers. The study shows that real transformation requires more than legislation: it demands mandatory training for legal professionals, integrated protection policies, systematic research on the problem, genuine participation of these women in decisions affecting them, and strengthening of community networks. Only by recognizing that formal equality is insufficient—material equality is necessary—can the law fulfill its promise of protection for all women.
