The special joint session of Brazilian National Congress in honor of the International Day for the End of Violence against Women on Wednesday (28) – the date is celebrated in November 25 - was marked by protests and indignation with the crime committed against a teenager girl that was kept in a prison cell in Pará state for 20 days with 20 men and repeatedly raped.

Senator Serys Slhessarenko (PT-MT), leader of female representatives at the Senate, expressed her indignation with the conditions in which the girl was arrested and suggested a parlamentarian committee to examine female prison system in Brazil. To Slhessarenko, in order to decrease violence against women, it would be necessary to change people’s minds, and this job should begin at home.

Senator Marisa Serrano (PSDB-MS) observed that the week was “very tough”, because of the crime’s repercussion in Pará state. The senator suggested that the state government should punish guilty local authorities so that their attitude would serve as an example. "The example remains", Marisa Serrano said.

To senator Roseana Sarney (PMDB-MA), it would be better if the International Day for the end of Violence against Women "was not necessary". To her, the idea of violence against women is incorporated into one’s personality unconsciously and admitted by the society specially when you take into account traditional roles played by each gender, where women are seen as having less value than men. And this, believes Roseana Sarney, “determines individuals' identity and social position according to gender".

- Many times criminals who practice violence are parents, husbands, even children. Violence takes place just because women have fear and also because of social indifference. As people are used to thinking that nobody should interfere in a couple’s relationship, criminals remain free - Roseana Sarney said. Senator Lúcia Vânia (PSDB-GO) was sorry about the girl’s case. She also criticized a statement issued by a police officer, the day before. The police officer said, in a public hearing, that the girl should have mental problems because she had not informed authorities she was under age.