Introduction
As Portugal commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, which marked the end of the Estado Novo dictatorship and a turning point in its colonial wars in Africa, the country is experiencing a rise in racism and hate crimes. This increase is reflected in a 38% surge in reported incidents in 2023 and a growing normalisation of racist and xenophobic attitudes, according to social analysts.
Racial profiling and police violence continue to affect Roma and Black communities disproportionately. A recent study reveals that Roma individuals are 43 times more likely, and Black individuals 21 times more likely, to be killed by the police. This troubling reality coincides with the recent formation of a right-wing government that includes the radical Chega party, which has gained influence in parliament and is promoting anti-immigrant and anti-Roma sentiments.
“The topics that really concern us: the use of migrants and refugees as scapegoats to scare the population and win votes,” Amnesty International Portugal’s Executive Director, Pedro A. Neto, commented. “The difference with Chega is that it capitalised on this racism to make it official discourse. It has normalised this kind of discourse, which is completely disrespectful," he continued.
This shift has raised concerns over potential laws that might further restrict civic freedoms and target activists. In conversation with the European Civic Forum (ECF), Jonni Lopes from Academia Cidadã (Citizenship Academy) noted that civic space in Portugal is increasingly constrained, particularly regarding the rights to peaceful protest and immigrant protection. He also highlighted a rise in misinformation and hate speech, which is encroaching on freedom of expression.
Tomás Nogueira from ONGD Plataforma Portuguesa, the country’s largest network of NGOs, expressed concerns about the government’s objectives and the uncertain future of funding for NGO initiatives. With populist influence growing, he emphasised the importance of vigilance against hate and discrimination.
Some limited positive developments have been noted, and recent legislation has aimed to criminalise racism and racial insults. However, organisations argue that the impact of such laws remains uncertain, as evidenced by the recent legal authorisation of an overtly xenophobic demonstration in Porto.
Freedom of association
EXCLUSION OF KEY ANTI-RACISM GROUPS FROM POST-SHOOTING GOVERNMENT MEETING
Following the fatal shooting of Odair Moniz by the Public Security Police (PSP) on 21st October 2024 and the riots that followed, the government met with representatives of different civil society organisations for discussions. However, several groups, including the Vida Justa movement and the Joint Action Group Against Racism and Xenophobia, criticised the government’s decision to exclude them from talks concerning marginalised communities. On 28th October, the latter issued a statement urging the Portuguese government to reconsider its decision to exclude the Black Consciousness Collective and FAR – Anti-Racist Front, emphasising that the exclusion of these groups undermines the development of policies that respond to the specific needs and concerns of marginalised groups.
INCREASED FUNDING FOR DEVELOPMENT NGOS AND SOCIAL ACTION INITIATIVES
On a positive note, Tomás Nogueira highlighted a significant increase in funding for development NGOs in 2023. Funding for development cooperation projects rose by 26%, while support for development education and global citizenship education grew by 60% compared to 2022.
On 10th October 2024, the government announced the 2025 State Budget, which includes an 11% increase in funding for social action. This additional funding will support initiatives focused on elder care, children and youth rights, the inclusion of people with disabilities, and support for homeless individuals, with active involvement from civil society.
Freedom of peaceful assembly
The right to peaceful assembly is facing significant challenges, affecting pro-Palestine solidarity protests, student encampments, climate justice activists, transgender rights activists and more. Below is a non-exhaustive summary of restrictions on peaceful protests that reflect the current situation.
PROTESTS AGAINST RACISM AND POLICE VIOLENCE
As noted above, on 21st October, the PSP shot and killed 43-year-old Odair Moniz, a Black man of Cape Verdean origin, in the Cova de Moura district of the city of Amadora. This incident was followed by a week of riots and planned protests against racism and police violence in Lisbon. On the second night of the unrest, the PSP arrested three people. The demonstrators demanded justice, while André Ventura from the Chega party called for a protest “in defence of the police”. According to Portuguese media reports, over 20 people were arrested in the last week of October and seven have been injured, including one seriously.
REPRESSIONS ON PALESTINE SOLIDARITY PROTESTS
On 7th May, students set up an encampment at the University of Lisbon's Faculty of Psychology to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to fossil fuels. However, on 9th May, the Public Security Police (PSP) entered the university grounds at the faculty’s request and detained eight students protesting in support of Palestine. Previously, at a meeting with the students, the faculty management had agreed not to evict the demonstrators from the camp as long as teaching continued as normal, prompting the students to question why this agreement had been broken.
On 17th May, the “End Fossil” collective organised a protest in solidarity with the Palestinian people, with demonstrators occupying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Police reportedly removed the activists and students forcibly, confiscating their posters.
On 22nd May, during a ceremony to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, a demonstration was organised by pro-Palestine activists, marked by a heavy police presence and tension.
On 6th June, activists staged a pro-Palestine protest during Ursula von der Leyen’s speech at a political rally held by the Democratic Alliance (AD-Aliança Democrática) in Porto. Protesters alleged that the PSP used excessive force and initially denied medical care to a seriously injured protester. Police arrested two activists and subjected another to an identity check, although the PSP confirmed only one arrest.
In January 2024, the Joint Action Group Against Racism published an open letter condemning a planned demonstration against “the Islamisation of Europe,” signed by 210 collectives, including Academia Cidadã, and 8,264 individuals. The authorities have yet to respond.
USE OF FORCE AND DETENTION OF CLIMATE ACTIVISTS
On 8th October 2023, following a climate protest event in Lisbon, police subjected 12 Climáximo activists who were speaking in public to identity checks and detained them for several hours without any legal basis. The PSP claimed that the activists had only been identified and not arrested, but Climáximo denied this and stated that only one minor had been released after identification.
On 19th October 2023, Climáximo activists in Lisbon organised a road blockade to protest climate inaction. Police responded with excessive force, forcibly removing the activists from the street and with one officer reportedly grabbing an activist by the neck.
On 27th November 2023, “End Fossil” Portugal organised a protest for climate justice in Lisbon, and police reportedly responded to the peaceful protest with excessive force.
On 15th November 2023, at least a dozen police officers entered the University of Lisbon and detained three students while they were giving a lecture on civil disobedience and climate action at the Faculty of Psychology. Two of them were giving the lecture, while the third was watching and filming. "This week a repression of the student struggle of a dimension that has not been seen for decades is being normalised. How is it possible for students who are just trying to fight for their future to be detained?" commented André Matias, spokesperson for the “End Fossil” group within the Faculty of Psychology,
On 17th March 2024, two photographers supporting Climáximo were detained at an EDP marathon in Lisbon after photographing a bridge that had been painted by activists who called for climate action. Police seized their phones and shoes, detaining them on unclear grounds, according to their supporters.
Academia Cidadã published an open letter signed by numerous organisations and collectives, calling for an end to the police repression against climate activists. The letter, originally prepared in December 2023 but updated in June 2024, highlighted the rise in police violence against climate activists and the peaceful nature of the activists’ actions.
In October 2023, climate activists at Lisbon Airport glued themselves to an airplane that was going to fly from Lisbon to Porto, in protest against greenhouse gas emissions from short-haul flights. One year later, in October 2024, the criminal case against them was archived. However, the activists still face administrative consequences, including suspended sentences and fines related to the protest.
TRANSGENDER RIGHTS AND WOMEN’S DAY PROTESTS
On 8th March, the PSP confronted participants in a demonstration to mark International Women’s Day in Faro, Portugal. A mother with her baby was approached by a police officer who wanted to confirm the route of the march and asked her if she was planning to join the march with her child. After she confirmed that was her intention, the officer warned her of potential dangers such as thrown objects and adverse weather conditions. The officer also expressed concerns about a counter-demonstration and said that the authorities could not guarantee the safety of the participants. The mother was also intimidated by the police officer, who threatened to record her details and report her to the Commission for the Protection of Children and Adolescents at Risk (CPCJ) if she took part in the march. A commissioner from the security forces appeared at the scene and supported the officer’s stance.
The march proceeded with the participation of the targeted mother, who was not subjected to a formal identity check. Following the conclusion of the demonstration, the officer reportedly followed the woman to her car, indicating his intention to use a photo of her licence plate to identify her and report the situation, according to the association Rede 8 de Março. On 23rd March, the same mother took part at another protest in the capital with her baby. “I grew up going to demonstrations on the 25th of April, the 8th of March and the 1st of May, which are celebrations of rights achieved. The PSP cannot question the right to protest as they did to me simply because I was bringing my son,” she highlighted.
The Academia Cidadã, represented by Jonni Lopes and João Costa, criticised the action as a violation of the democratic rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression, condemning the use of misogynistic tactics to suppress the fight for equality, both nationally and in Europe. The feminist association Rede 8 de Março Algarve has strongly condemned the PSP’s actions towards the targeted mother participating in a peaceful demonstration with her baby. They highlighted inconsistencies in the PSP’s treatment of different groups, and called for transparency regarding the PSP’s motives and actions. Following the incident, Rede 8 de Março made a formal complaint.
On 30th and 31st March – the latter now officially declared as National Trans Visibility Day – two trans visibility marches took place in Porto and Lisbon. In Porto, a bloc for Palestine was also formed, calling out the Israeli government’s “pinkwashing” strategy. "We demand safety, well-being and health for all trans people, even in childhood! [...] We took to the streets to demand justice for the entire trans population, including those from marginalized communities. [...] In the year that marks the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April, it is urgent to remember the values and principles that brought us here," an activist commented.
TEACHER STRIKES AND PROTESTS OVER HOUSING CRISIS
Fenprof and the Associação Nacional de Professores de Informática organised a strike beginning on 8th April, due to the increasing pressure on IT teachers to perform tasks outside their teaching responsibilities, specifically maintenance and technical support for digital tests. They argued that these duties are being improperly assigned to teachers while conditions in schools are worsening, with technology frequently breaking down.
Despite a last-minute pledge from the outgoing government to provide €6.5 million for new computers, Fenprof remained sceptical about the effectiveness of this initiative and reaffirmed their commitment to the strike.
In addition to the teachers' strikes, on 28th September, thousands of people across Portugal, including in Lisbon, protested to demand the constitutional right to affordable housing. This protest highlighted the ongoing crisis as many residents, particularly middle-class families, are being pushed out of the property market due to increasing rent charges and mortgage rates. Rita Silva from the Fair Life movement pointed out that the situation hasn't improved over the last two years, as the chronic shortage of affordable housing has been exacerbated by an influx of wealthy foreigners and a tourism boom leading to a surge in short-term holiday lets.
For some time now, there have been protests against rising rents in Portugal, which are contributing to an increasingly precarious situation for many people, and researchers are calling for urgent reforms. What's more, the number of young Portuguese people who own a home has halved in the last 20 years.
Moreover, the housing crisis has particularly affected migrants, with reports emphasising the struggles faced by people on the move. Rents have skyrocketed by 94% since 2015, while house prices have risen by 186%, according to housing data specialists. As the Migration Observatory (OM) has highlighted, migrants are especially at risk during the housing crisis, as they often occupy more precarious jobs that come with lower wages.
Freedom of expression
In general, media freedom in Portugal remains robust, with journalists able to report without restrictions. However, they often face financial and legal challenges.
THE CASE OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER MAMADOU BA
As previously reported by the CIVICUS Monitor, anti-racism activist, founder of the SOS Racismo Portugal movement and founding member of the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) Mamadou Ba was charged with defamation in October 2022. In October 2023, he was sentenced to a fine for allegedly defaming the right-wing extremist Mário Machado. The crowdfunding campaign to support Mamadou Ba's legal costs was temporarily halted on 24th October due to numerous complaints, but resumed the following afternoon after the GoFundMe platform reversed its decision.
CENSORING PALESTINE SOLIDARITY
On 25th July in Braga, during a Europa League match between the Portuguese club Sp. Braga and the Israeli club Petah Tikva, some fans displayed a Palestinian flag. The PSP removed the flag after it “caused unease” among the Israeli delegation and fans. International standards say that waving a flag – any flag – is a form of political expression that should enjoy maximum legal protection and should not be restricted.
GENDER IDENTITY AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION
On 3rd September 2023, a protest disrupted the launch of Lúcia Vicente's children's book focused on inclusion and diversity. An intimidating demonstration aimed to silence the author and presenters, described by the publisher, Penguin Random House as a threat to freedom of expression.
Um fio sobre a luta contra o ruído e a intolerância:
— PenguinLivros (@PenguinLivrosPT) September 23, 2023
Na tarde de ontem, um livro que publicámos, dois autores e uma livraria da cidade de Lisboa foram alvos de uma ameaça à liberdade de expressão. Na apresentação pública do livro “No meu bairro” pic.twitter.com/lyOaCR8npK
The book, titled "In My Neighbourhood," addresses themes such as racism, gender identity, and bullying through fictional stories. Vicente reported receiving hateful messages online and noted that the presentation was prevented from continuing due to the use of megaphones from protesters. The Portuguese PEN Club condemned the protest, advocating for mutual respect and freedom of expression.
On 29th January 2024, a new law was passed that prohibits and criminalises forced practices aimed at converting the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBTQI+ individuals. Set to enter into force on 1st March, this law imposes penalties of up to three years in prison for those who subject individuals to conversion therapies, with harsher sentences of up to five years for irreversible medical interventions. Importantly, the law excludes self-determined gender identity procedures from its penalties. This legislative move reflected a significant step forward in protecting LGBTQI+ rights in Portugal, supported by various political parties, although it faced opposition from some factions during its approval process
In February, the threats against the Leiria Drag Festival intensified after MPs from the Chega party requested that municipal support for the festival be cut. After this request was rejected, an individual began making threats against the festival on social media and buying tickets to attend the event. In anticipation of possible protests outside the venue, the organisers increased security measures and prepared for a counter-protest. In the end, however, the event was peaceful, although dozens of opponents to the festival gathered outside the venue, as the leader of the group was refused entry to the theatre and the others chose not to enter.
Lastly, recent findings show that several LGBTQI+ individuals experience discrimination in employment, housing and healthcare. Bias impacts mental health, limiting access to essential services and creating unsafe working conditions. Advocates highlight the importance of inclusive policies and laws that protect LGBTQI+ individuals and ensure equal opportunities and access to services.