The brutal killing of a young woman linked to a Brazilian football star has not only made world news headlines, but also highlighted the serious problem of domestic violence in the country.<br /><br />Brazil currently ranks 12th in the world for murders of women.<br /><br />A study by the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, a Geneva-based non-governmental organisation, says one in four women in the country will be victims of domestic violence in their lifetime.<br /><br />In 70 per cent of the cases, women are beaten inside their homes. And 40 per cent of the time, the incident results in serious injury.<br /><br />Victims say the authorities are often slow to react.<br /><br />Al Jazeera's Gabriel Elizondo reports from Sao Paulo. (July 17, 2010)
