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.

Brazil currently ranks 12th in the world for murders of women.

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.

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.

Victims say the authorities are often slow to react.

Al Jazeera's Gabriel Elizondo reports from Sao Paulo.