Portugal
Population size:
10,269,417 [1]
Number of people experiencing domestic abuse each year:
UN Violence against women reports Women who have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime: 19% Physical and/or Sexual Intimate Partner Violence in the last 12 months against women: 5%.
Lifetime Non-Partner Sexual Violence against women: 1% [2]
No research on male victims or other gender identities.
Cost of domestic abuse to the economy each year:
No research.
Estimated % change due to COVID-19:
Portugal has experienced a decrease in the reports of domestic violence by 26 percent in comparison to the same period in 2019 [3]
Current law and policy:
Portugal commits to increase protection and support to survivors of violence and reinforce public awareness and social mobilization.
Portugal commits to increase, by all means, the protection and support of victims of violence against women through the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence. Portugal commits to continue its efforts to implement the IV National Plan Against Domestic Violence, which promotes measures concerning the prevention, protection of victims and qualification of professionals, involving all relevant stakeholders; as well as implement the II Program for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation and the II National Plan Against Trafficking in Human Beings.
Portugal further commits to reinforce public awareness and social mobilization and continue to raise public awareness on elimination of violence against women through annual campaigns. In 2012, Portugal improved the means of protection of victims by extending the tele-assistance system, increasing the use of means of electronic surveillance of the aggressors and intensifying the training of judges, prosecutors and security forces. It also established new provisions for victims when they leave the shelters and certainly need additional support. The shelters technical teams have now a financial fund to support women victims of violence, in addition to other social supports provided by law. Portugal commits to reinforce measures in order to guarantee a protective environment for women who are victims of domestic violence.
To help the women that cannot return to their home, the Government signed a protocol with the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities establishing a network of solidary municipalities to improve access to housing. Recognizing that the access to employment and training is critical to empower survivors, Portugal has created an employment support system. Focal points have been established for survivors in the employment and vocational training centres. Portugal commits to continue to take all necessary steps in protecting and empowering women survivors of violence. Portugal’s “National Domestic Violence Journeys” allowed a debate and constituted an intense time of reflection on the causes behind violence in the family context. It involved security, justice, health, education, social security and employment sectors. Portugal is launching a study on the prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation and increasing its work with communities where FGM is practiced. In order to do that, it is strengthening relationship with migrant associations and creating new possibilities for financial support to their activities in the community.
Portugal has adopted a national action plan for the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 that aims, in particular, to increase the participation of Portuguese women in peacekeeping missions and to ensure the training of those involved in peace-building processes, both on gender equality and gender violence.
Sources
[1] The World Bank, (1)
[2] UN Women, “Global Database on Violence Against Women – Portugal”, (evaw-global-database.unwomen.org)
[3] https://evaw-global-database.unwomen.org/es/countries/europe/portugal