National Guidelines in Portugal - Constitutional Government

Official Policies of the XV Constitutional Government

In the official policies of the current Portuguese government, the area of equality is part of Chapter 4, named "Strengthening Social Justice" under the sub heading "Guaranteeing equality of opportunity".

The text starts by underlining that the elimination of gender discrimination is a fundamental human right. That is why government action in this area must take place at various levels and in different ways. The text indicates that the general goal is to follow the orientations of the Beijing Platform and promote its implementation.

The text then lists the areas of priority action. In the area of labour and employment, the goal is to rigorously implement EEO legislation and protect maternity. The second area of intervention aims at harmonizing professional and family life by using innovative measures. Fighting violence, particularly domestic, constitutes another area of action. The balanced participation of men and women in public life is another priority. Finally, the text emphasises the importance of education and the elimination of stereotypes based on gender differences.

Finally, the chapter explains the necessity of drafting a National Plan for Equality outlining the objectives for Portugal and implementing it.