More from the same article:
The new legislation deepens legislation sanctioned in 2006 by President Rousseff's predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Known as the "Maria da Penha" law, it paid tribute to Maria da Penha Maia, a woman whose ex-husband beat her for 14 years and attempted to murder her twice, leaving her paraplegic.
She is a notable figure in the movement for women's rights in Brazil.
The "Maria da Penha" law stated that aggressors were no longer to be punished with alternative sentences.
It increased the maximum sentence from one to three years.
It also ordered the removal of abusers from the home and banned them from proximity to the woman or children attacked.
During her term in office, President Rousseff has enacted other laws aimed at women and girls.
In August 2013, she signed legislation requiring all public hospitals to provide treatment against sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/Aids for rape victims.
It requires that victims be given access to emergency contraception, and in the case of pregnancy they have the right to an abortion, illegal in Brazil in most cases.
It's time this legislation became real. Very advanced, intelligent way of checking a monstrous problem. Glad to know former President Lula da Silva was behind it, as well.