The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office has opened an inquiry into the alleged omission by the São Paulo state government regarding the rise in feminicides and gender-based violence. The action highlights the record number of cases in the capital in 2025 and budget cuts to women's protection policies. An emblematic case involved Tainara Souza Santos, who lost her legs after being dragged by her ex-partner.
The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) has launched a civil inquiry to investigate the potential omission by the São Paulo state government, led by Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos), in addressing feminicides and gender-based violence. The action was prompted by the record number of cases in the city of São Paulo in 2025, as well as budget cuts to public policies for women's protection. The Secretariat for Women's Policies received the smallest resources in the current administration.
One of the cases cited as emblematic is that of Tainara Souza Santos, 31 years old. She was dragged for about 1 km along the Marginal Tietê, in the north zone of the capital, by her ex-boyfriend, who could not accept the end of the relationship and acted out of jealousy upon seeing her with another man. As a result, Tainara had both legs amputated. The incident illustrates the severity of domestic violence in the state.
Data from the Brazilian Public Security Yearbook show that São Paulo accounted for 17% of all feminicides in the country and 24% of bodily injuries from domestic violence in the previous year. In response, the MPF ordered the issuance of official requests to various entities. The state's Public Security Secretariat must report on police training for humane and welcoming care of victims. The São Paulo City Hall, through its Secretariats for Human Rights and Citizenship, Justice, and Education, needs to detail 2025 budgets, resource execution, available equipment, and the inclusion of content on human rights and prevention of violence against women in early childhood curricula, as per the National Education Guidelines and Bases Law (LDB).
Additionally, requests were sent to the Ministry of Women and the Basic Education Secretariat of the Ministry of Education to outline measures against the rise in feminicides and compliance with the LDB. Once responses are received, the MPF plans a meeting with civil society representatives, including the Maria da Penha Institute, the Serenas organization, the Women's Promotion and Defense Unit (Nudem) of the São Paulo State Public Defender's Office (DPE-SP), and the São Paulo State Public Prosecutor's Office (MPSP), to coordinate joint actions.
The São Paulo government had not commented on the inquiry at the time of the Metropoles report's publication.
