HUMAN RIGHTS

In Portugal
 WHAT ARE HUMAN
RIGHTS?

Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, from birth until
death.

They apply regardless of where you are from, what you believe or how you choose to live your life.

They can never be taken away, although they can sometimes be restricted – if a person breaks the law, or in
the interests of national security.

These basic rights are based on shared values like dignity, fairness, equality, respect and independence.

These values are defined and protected by law.

HOW ARE HUMAN RIGHTS
PROTECTED IN PORTUGAL?

As a member of the European Union, our country, Portugal, is

submitted to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European
Union, and, as member of the United Nations, the same applies to
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
 HOW ARE HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTED IN PORTUGAL?

Furthermore, we have The National Commission for Human

The Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, in force
Rights, which is an interministerial coordination body that
since 1976, foresees this right throughout its 296
aims at an integrated approach to human rights and the
articles, mainly in the 2nd point of the 16th article: “Os
concertation of action by public and private entities
preceitos constitucionais e legais relativos aos direitos
competent in this matter. This Commission works under the
fundamentais devem ser interpretados e integrados de
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, among their competences,
harmonia com a Declaração Universal dos Direitos do
the coordination of the various Ministries stands out, with a
Homem” (Constitutional and legal precepts regarding
view to defining the national position in international human
fundamental rights must be interpreted and integrated in
rights’ organizations and the fulfilment by Portugal of the
accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human
obligations arising from international instruments in this
Rights).
field. The Commission is also responsible for promoting the
Portugal is ruled by Law and recognizes these rights in an
production and dissemination of documentation on good
unconditional way, being, in this matter, an example to the
national and international practices in this area and
World and compliant with what should be a European
promoting the dissemination and knowledge of the subject
Union Member-State.
of human rights.
ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL
HUMAN RIGHTS
LAWS IN PORTUGAL?
Yes, there are special human rights in
Portugal.
Portugal is a part of the Council of Europe (the
most important council when it comes to
human rights), while many countries involved
in the human rights convention are not part of
the council. Portugal respects all human rights
in all conventions.
EXAMPLES:
§ Refugees and asylum-seekers: they must be received in centres of temporary
installation, they receive subsidiaries and they also have the right to medical care.
§ Environmental law covers topics like air and water quality, waste
management, contaminant clean-up, chemical waste, hunting and fishing.
§ Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transsexuals’ rights (LGBT community): in
Portugal’s constitution it is stipulated that no one should be treated differently
because of their sexuality. In Europe, Portugal is one of the few countries that
states that on its constitution. Gender transitioning is also accepted in Portugal for
people over sixteen years old.
§ Right to democracy and separation of powers.
§ Right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
§ Right to medical care.
§ Convention to repress and control genocide.
§ Right to Human rights.
§ Convention against torture and other ill-treatment.
 “Discrimination against women gives a clear alarm signal
about the threat to our common values. Women's rights are
human rights and attacks on women are attacks on all of us. ”

ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, 08-03-2017

Where to go to when someone or somebody
infringes one of your human rights?
For instance, you apply for a job and you are rejected because you are a female or a
transgender, who to turn to?

1. 2. Then, for instance, use social media

First, we inform the organization
superior to the person or group of
people who disrespected our right;
to express dissatisfaction. The reach of the situation that
occurred would not only prove the bad performance of the
company in question, but it would also raise awareness of
situations that are unfortunately still quite recurrent in the
labour market, and beyond.

3. 4.
In more extreme situations, deepen
Finally, cover our complaint by
the complaint by addressing the
addressing international
national body responsible for
organizations.
promoting equality.
DO YOU THINK HUMAN RIGHTS ARE WELL
PROTECTED IN PORTUGAL?

Clara Martins “In my opinion, in comparison to other countries (which can suffer a
lot even in silence), Portugal is generally safe when it comes to
citizens’ rights. However, there are still lots of unacceptable
inequalities, for instance, in the access to a home, refugees’
integrity, gender and colour discrimination or domestic violence.
These all violate human rights (right to liberty and security, non-
discrimination, equality between women and men – articles 6, 21
and 23, respectively, stated in the Charter).
Fortunately, there’s been a growth in the population’s concern
regarding these matters. In order do defend human rights, namely
youngsters are seen in protests against these topics, which are
reaching authorities, and I believe we are finally managing to open
up narrower minds.
Being part of a democratic republic, it is our duty to speak up
whenever we feel something is not good, in order to ensure nobody’s
in danger!”
DO YOU THINK HUMAN RIGHTS ARE WELL
PROTECTED IN PORTUGAL?

Beatriz Silva “Over the years, in my opinion, the new generations have been giving
less and less importance to human rights, perhaps because they
never missed them.
Portugal is, in general, a peaceful country and represents an
example for the protection of human rights. Article 35 states
“Everyone has the right of access to preventive health care and the
right ...”. In my opinion, this is a good example, because Portugal can
reach the needs of patients through the national health care
system, giving the population the opportunity to have a better
quality of life.
Respect for human rights is not new, Portugal was one of the first
countries to abolish slavery: Article 5: “Prohibition of slavery and
forced labour”.
Even though human rights now seem to be guaranteed, we have to
work to avoid their disappearance.”
DO YOU THINK HUMAN RIGHTS ARE WELL
PROTECTED IN PORTUGAL?
Alberto Mahomedov

“Portugal has the most significant international legal

instruments for the defense of human rights.
Human Rights are increasingly threatened by the lack of
democracy, and the Portuguese Republic guarantees all
citizens the package of Human Rights. Even when laws
are broken, democratic institutions guarantee the
preservation and resolution of problem.”
 “All rights are equal,
interdependent and
interrelated and
must be treated
equally”
DIOGO FREITAS DO AMARAL
 “25 de Abril”
(25th of April 1974)

In this historic day, Portuguese people were finally free

from the reins of the “Estado Novo” led by António Salazar,
a fascist regime that ruled Portugal between 1933 and
1974. In this period people couldn’t have an opinion,
liberty was not an option and important rights like the
EVENTS right to vote were not exercised, Portuguese people were
forced to fight in wars they didn’t want, our nation was
THAT covered in poverty and misery until the “25 de Abril”, also
known as “Revolução dos Cravos” (Carnation Revolution).
SUPPORTED
HUMAN “25 de Novembro”
(25th of April 1974)
RIGHTS
In this date another Coup d’état was attempted, this
time by Portuguese communists and their party, PCP
(Portuguese Communist Party), who tried to take down
the Republic and implement a dictatorship of the
proletariat, following the Soviet Unions’ example and
practices, a nation that in 1948 refused to sign the U.N.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Happily they
failed and nowadays we are a strong and democratic
country.
PERSONS THAT
SUPPORTED HUMAN
RIGHTS
Carolina Beatriz Ângelo

Carolina Beatriz Ângelo was the first woman in Portugal to vote

(28th of May, 1911), she did this by “bending” the law a little. Back
then only the head of the family could vote, he/she should be at
least 21 years of age and should be able to read and write but it was
not mentioned what gender could vote so there was a flaw in the law
and that’s how Carolina, according to the law, was able to vote. She
was always a fighter for women right’s and democracy, between
1906 and 1908 she co-founded the “Liga Republicana das Mulheres
Portuguesas” (Portuguese Women's Republican League) which in the
following years helped women get more rights, like the right to
divorce, tuition (before only a male relative had this right), better
salaries and many other things.
PERSONS THAT
SUPPORTED HUMAN
RIGHTS
Aristides de Sousa Mendes

Aristides de Sousa Mendes was a Portuguese diplomat whose

altruistic and human acts constitute an exemplary case for the
defense of human rights. The diplomat, despite being at the service of
the Portuguese dictatorial government at the time, was able to
understand the injustice of the orders in Circular 14, which, during
World War II, ordered the suspension of the granting of visas to
Russian, Jewish refugees, Poles, stateless persons and others who
were persecuted by the Nazi regime, so he emitting himself visas
without distinction of "race or religion". This humanist act was
severely condemned by Salazar, but Aristides was forever in history as
one of the greatest human rights defenders of the time.
 WHY ARE HUMAN RIGHTS
IMPORTANT?

The human rights ensure that everyone has the basic access to food, education, clothes, water, shelter...
Overall a healthy life. It encourages people all over the world to fight for their freedom and for their rights.
They protect individuals and groups against actions that may interfere with their freedoms and dignity.
Therefore, they serve to ensure that everyone has their integrity protected.

The human rights allow us to live the lifestyle that we want and to love who we want. It allows us to have
equal rights and opportunities. It makes us equal citizens.
 WHY ARE HUMAN RIGHTS
IMPORTANT?

The European Union is strongly committed to the promotion and protection of human rights, democracy, and
the rule of law worldwide. Human rights are crucial in the EU's relations with other countries and regions.
Promotes the rights of women, children, minorities and displaced persons opposes the death penalty, torture,
human trafficking and discrimination ensures that civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights are
respected defends human rights in the framework of a dynamic partnership with partner countries,
international and regional organizations and groups and associations at all levels of society provides for the
inclusion of human rights clauses in all trade or cooperation agreements with non-EU countries.

One of the characteristics of human rights is its collective character. It is the variety of ways of establishing
social relationships among people of the same culture and people of different cultures. They seek above all to
validate fundamental human rights against any type of violation.
 “The presence of women in
power must translate into an
improvement in the living
conditions of human beings”
—MARIA DE LOURDES PINTASILGO
Alberto Mahomedov Beatriz Silva Bernardo Oliveira Carolina Alves Clara Martins Filipa Silva

OUR NATIONAL TEAM

Margarida Cunha Gonçalo Pires

Francisca Paredes Leonor Silva Maria Coelho Simão Costa Tiago Cardoso Mariana Guimarães

Maria Ribeiro Mariana Carvalho Mafalda Frutuoso Maria Silva Vitória Freitas Sara Lehmann