A tool developed by the startup Direito Ágil recorded one request every two hours in the state, establishing itself as a vital channel for women in peripheral territories.
O Maria da Penha Virtual, a tool made possible by the startup Agile Law which had the support of the Court of Justice of Rio de Janeiro (TJRJ) and Paraíba (TJPB), ended 2025 with a significant milestone in the fight against domestic violence. In the state of Rio, [number] were recorded. 4,014 requests for protective measures throughout the year — an average of 11 requests per day, or one request every two hours.
The volume represents a growth of 7.8% in relation to 2024, In 2019, 3,723 requests were recorded. The increase not only reflects, unfortunately, the escalation of violence, but also indicates greater confidence among victims in the digital channel, which allows direct access to the judiciary without the need to travel to a police station or file a prior police report.
The “December Effect” and the geography of violence
The data reveals a worrying scenario for the end of the year. December was the month with the highest number of occurrences, totaling 523 requests. The peak confirms a historical trend: increased family time during recess and holidays, coupled with a reduction in in-person services, makes the home a higher-risk environment.
Technology has been crucial in democratizing access to justice, especially in vulnerable areas. The courts with the highest volume of requests were... Leopoldina (which includes the Maré and Alemão Complexes), New Iguaçu and Bangu.
According to the developers, this data shows that the Maria da Penha Virtual app is primarily used by women from marginalized communities, breaking down geographical and institutional barriers that historically prevented them from seeking protection.
ABOUT AGILE LAW: from the university to intelligent public management
The startup responsible for Maria da Penha Virtual was born within academia (UFRJ and UNIRIO) and evolved to become a reference in... GovTech Focused on human rights, the initiative arose from urgency. During the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, a group of university students noticed the increase in domestic violence and the difficulty of accessing traditional means. The solution was to create a web app that would realize a right enshrined in the Maria da Penha Law since 2006, but rarely applied: requesting protection without intermediaries.
“The motivation came from the urgency to combat underreporting, since many women, out of fear or bureaucracy, do not seek help from the police. Using technology as a tool to realize rights, we created the Maria da Penha Virtual system,” she explains. Rafael Wanderley, founder of the project.
- Evolution: With support from BNDES Garagem and Sebrae, the startup expanded its operations by creating the platform. SheProtected. The solution offers integrated management for municipalities, replacing paper forms with a system that includes geolocation, automated risk calculation, and a guidance chat. ElaProtegida is a SaaS platform that integrates reception, secure reporting and intelligent management of cases of violence against women.
- Investments: The company attracted contributions from shell (via international acceleration program) and support from Niterói City Hall. In the private sector, it has partnerships with brands such as Mary Kay.
- Recognition: The technology of Direito Ágil has already been awarded the CNJ Viviane Vieira do Amaral Award and received an honorable mention in the prestigious Innovare Award.
- In September 2025, Direito Ágil was selected for the Pitch Challenge ABES CSC 2025, GovTech category.
