Latest news and stories about domestic violence in government in Portugal for expats and residents.
The Constitutional Court has struck down a legal provision that allowed domestic violence victims to provide testimony without alerting the accused. The ruling has sparked concern among magistrates regarding the potential for witness intimidation and delays in judicial proceedings.
The Supreme Court has established that 'future memory statements' made by domestic violence victims during initial inquiries can be admitted as evidence, even if the victim refuses to testify at trial, aiming to protect victims from repetitive trauma.
Carla Tavares, the newly elected president of the Socialist Women, outlines her agenda to enhance political training for militants and introduce legislative reforms concerning labour law and public safety.
The government is proposing legislative changes to enhance the role of victim and witness testimonies in domestic violence cases, aiming to improve the effectiveness of criminal responses and reduce case dismissals. Justice Minister Rita Alarcão Júdice emphasizes the importance of these reforms, which include standardizing the collection of statements for future reference, particularly for vulnerable victims like children. Even if victims do not testify at trial, their prior statements will be treated as valid evidence. The proposal follows a report from the Superior Council of the Judiciary and has garnered support from the Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV), which advocates for improved victim rights and a gender perspective in judicial decisions. The government claims it has the necessary resources to implement these changes and is working to expand support networks for victims of violence.
The man, accused of death threats and physical assault against his wife and daughter, attacked a PSP officer during his arrest. He is prohibited from approaching the victim.
They must also file a criminal complaint.
A 47-year-old man has been remanded in custody on suspicion of domestic violence against his ex-partner in Sintra
The GNR specified that the physical and psychological violence also occurred in Salvaterra de Magos, the town where the man resided at the time of his arrest.
Left Bloc MP Fabian Figueiredo appeared this Wednesday on RTP's Grande Entrevista, with the conversation focused on his experience of domestic violence involving his siblings and mother. This evening's interview revisits an article written a few weeks ago by Fabian Figueiredo - 'The violence of normality' - regarding his experience of that reality, which had a significant impact on Portuguese society.
Since 2022, 180,000 euros have been spent supporting victims separated from their abusers. Parliament is discussing changes to the scheme, with the budgetary impact yet to be assessed.
Crimes have already caused the deaths of 28 people this year. Some of these victims had minor children who were left alone because the father is the murderer.
Luís Neves states that domestic violence accounts for the highest number of reports among all crimes in Portugal.
A demonstration inspired by the series 'The Handmaid's Tale' took place in Portugal to raise awareness about domestic violence.
When the State stops offering solutions, the void is filled with distrust, resignation, and, ultimately, with those who appear offering easy answers to complex problems.
Expresso highlights that children are now the majority in shelters for domestic violence victims, with 688 children compared to 681 women. The paper also reviews the first six months of António José Seguro's presidency and notes an increase in classes without teachers. Público reports that the night flight limit in Lisbon was only met twice this year. Jornal de Notícias notes that while employment is at historic levels, youth unemployment stands at 20.1%, significantly higher than the EU average. Correio da Manhã reports that a victim of the 'Rolex gang' was previously convicted of a multi-million euro fraud. Nascer do Sol highlights political tensions between the President and the government, while Diário de Notícias reports on the 2027 budget preparations. Eco notes that home loans remain resilient despite new Bank of Portugal rules, and Negócios reports on Portugal's goal to triple its participation in European defense projects.
The suspect was arrested while inflicting psychological and verbal abuse on the victim.
Every year, the numbers repeat themselves with the monotony of things we choose not to see. Thousands of children grow up in contexts of domestic violence. My story is one of those lines in the table.
Rocha regrets that complaints made to the authorities often lead to nothing before a homicide occurs. Furthermore, the mother of the 3-year-old boy found on the stairs of a building in Braga has been named a formal suspect.
We look at the timeline of the case involving a 15-year-old teenager suspected of killing his mother with a chokehold. The former president of the IAC regrets that a “devaluation of violence” is being observed.
A 44-year-old foreign man was caught by the Évora PSP. The suspect is prohibited from making contact and will be monitored by an electronic ankle tag.
The PSP denies that it refused a domestic violence report made by the teenager who killed his mother in Algés at the end of July. In a lengthy clarification, the police detail the entire timeline of the case and recall that, in less than a year and a half, they visited the family's residence five times.
A 15-year-old boy killed his mother using a chokehold. Initially perceived as a monstrous act, the story reveals a cycle of abuse: the boy and his 4-year-old sister were victims of physical and psychological mistreatment, which the boy had previously reported. The mother, in turn, was a victim of severe domestic violence by her husband, who is currently awaiting trial. This case highlights a collective failure by state authorities—including police and child protection services—to intervene despite clear warning signs. The tragedy underscores the inadequacy of bureaucratic processes in high-risk domestic violence cases, where urgent action is required but often delayed, leading to fatal consequences.
Domestic violence figures are rising alongside the courage to report it. Meanwhile, in football, politics enters the pitch and raises serious questions about the ethics of organising the 2030 World Cup with Morocco.
Statistics show that domestic violence cases result in an average of eight arrests daily across the country.
Judges state that the victim's testimony for future memory can only be collected after the suspect has been formally named as an arguido.
Lack of communication between entities put the victim in danger for 18 days. The abuser was only arrested after attacking again.
The Supreme Court of Justice recalls the nature and purpose of statements for future memory, which aim to avoid re-victimisation processes by reliving and recalling traumatic moments.
Portugal’s Constitutional Court has struck down a legal provision that allowed victims of domestic violence to give testimony to authorities before their alleged abusers were formally made suspects. In a The post Constitutional Court splits over domestic violence witness ruling, raising concerns appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The problem of domestic violence, when it involves children, requires serious reflection on the limitations of the protection system and on what we are willing to accept as the cost of decision-making. Opinion by Hélio Bento Ferreira
Hugo Borges has led the corporation since 2021. His ex-wife claims she was insulted and controlled over the course of 25 years.
