The court rulings analyzed by CNN Portugal reveal that women victims of rape are frequently questioned in Portuguese courts about how they reacted to sexual violence, about their actions before and after the crimes, and also about their personal lives. These questions suggest excessive scrutiny over the victims' behavior during judicial proceedings.
Lawyers and researchers warn about the persistence of prejudices in the Portuguese judicial system. According to these experts, these prejudices can turn the trial into a new moment of violence for women who filed complaints, instead of protecting them and giving them justice.
The analysis of the rulings shows that, instead of focusing on the facts relating to the crime committed, courts sometimes seem to focus on the victims' behavior, which can contribute to the re-victimization of women during the judicial process.
