Shield for aggressors: the use of the Parental Alienation Act as a counterattack in domestic violence cases

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5020/2317-2150.2026.16789

Keywords:

parental alienation, domestic violence, gender-based violence, judicial decisions, protective measures

Abstract

This article investigates the relationship between allegations of parental alienation and reports of domestic violence in judicial proceedings in Brazil, focusing on the application of Law 12.318 (Brasil, 2010) (the Parental Alienation Act – PAA) as an instrument for perpetuating gender-based violence. As an empirical counterpoint, we examine appellate court decisions, understood not only as legal rulings but also as “state truths” that shape broader family dynamics and establish specific expectations regarding parental roles—particularly for mothers, who are the main individuals accused of committing parental alienation. Based on an analysis of judicial decisions published up to 2022, we developed a structured questionnaire that allowed for the quantitative and qualitative categorization of information and enabled an understanding of how parental alienation is mobilized in cases of domestic violence, especially those involving protective measures. Preliminary results show that the PAA has been used as a defensive strategy by aggressors to downplay domestic violence, delegitimize allegations, and revictimize women. This study thus aims to contribute to the debate on the legal and political implications of the PAA in light of feminist struggles and the protection of victims of domestic violence.

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Author Biographies

Leandro dos Santos Ferreira, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Master’s student in Health Promotion and Violence Prevention at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Researcher at the Center for Studies on Criminality and Public Safety of Minas Gerais (CRISP/UFMG). Attorney.

Alessandra Abrahão Costa, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

PhD in Sociology and Politics from the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Senior Researcher at the Women's Network for Studies on Violence, Justice, and Prisons (Rede FEMJUSP). Master’s Degree in Social Institutions, Law, and Democracy.

Alessandra Mendes França, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

PhD student in Sociology from the Graduate Program in Sociology at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (2025). Master’s Degree in Sociology from the Graduate Program in Sociology at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (2025). Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (2022). Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University Center of Belo Horizonte (2008). Researcher at Crisp, Center for Studies on Criminality and Public Safety of UFMG.

Camila Costa Cardeal, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontário, Canadá

PhD student in Social Work at the University of Ottawa - Canada. Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the João Pinheiro Foundation (FJP). Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (2015). Currently a researcher at the Feminist Anti-Violence Research Collective (FemAnVi) at the University of Ottawa and at the Women's Network for Studies on Violence, Justice, and Prisons (FEMJUSP/UFMG). She conducts research in the areas of Violence Against Women and Girls, structural violence, Intersectional Feminism, Children and Adolescent Rights, Municipal Public Safety Policies, and Municipal Guard.

References

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Published

2026-07-08

How to Cite

dos Santos Ferreira, L., Abrahão Costa, A., Mendes França, A., & Costa Cardeal, C. (2026). Shield for aggressors: the use of the Parental Alienation Act as a counterattack in domestic violence cases. Pensar - Journal of Legal Sciences, 31, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.5020/2317-2150.2026.16789

Issue

Section

Thematic Axis 1 – Law, Democracy and Social Justice