INTRODUCTION:
Violence against women (VAW) constitutes a persistent and complex public health and human rights problem in Brazil, requiring intersectoral responses and integrated public policies to address it1. The law protecting women against violence in the country, known as the Maria da Penha Law, is considered innovative and enhances knowledge about the life story of the woman who inspired it2. Her personal trajectory was crucial for the consolidation of legal and institutional milestones in the fight against gender-based violence3. The objective was to understand the interface between Maria da Penha's life story and the process of implementing public policies to combat violence against women in Brazil.

METHODS:
This is a qualitative study, based on the life history method4, conducted between 2022 and 2023 in Ceará, Brazil. The participant was a woman, an internationally recognized public figure in the fight for women's rights. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, which were recorded, transcribed, and validated by the participant. Data analysis was based on the narrative interview technique, as described by Schütze5-6.

RESULTS:
The narratives revealed personal and socio-political dimensions of Maria da Penha's life trajectory, highlighting experiences of violence throughout her life, changes in her relationship, the recovery process, and physical and psychological consequences. The analysis revealed that individual experiences interact with the historical context of advances and challenges in public policies addressing violence against women3. It was evident that publicizing a unique experience was fundamental in driving normative changes and strengthening the network of protection for women in Brazil.

CONCLUSIONS:
Individual narratives, when shared socially, can generate collective and institutional transformations. Knowing the woman who inspired a protective law for women reinforces the importance of individual experiences in the construction of public policies.