The Ministry of Education is investigating reports that nearly 80 schools were visited by digital influencers linked to adult content during student association campaigns over the last two years. The investigation follows media reports revealing weaknesses in school management bodies that allowed these individuals to participate in student activities. Parents should be aware that the government has announced new guidelines to prohibit any school activities that contradict educational values.
Over 2,400 organisations are warning of severe child protection risks following the expiration of the European legal framework for monitoring online child sexual abuse.
The PSD will submit a bill proposing age verification at social media account creation to enforce a ban on under-13s and restrict access for under-16s. The measure, described as sensible and largely inevitable in an editorial, aims to protect children and reduce pressures such as the pursuit of likes, though it raises practical enforcement and privacy concerns about verification methods.
The origin of the injuries remains unclear. Authorities have not found evidence of a crime, but the court has already initiated proceedings to protect the siblings. The child is expected to be discharged in the coming days.
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
Safeguarding is the set of policies, practices, and cultures that ensure all children, young people, and vulnerable adults are protected from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. It is not just a set of rules, but a way of organizing institutions to be safe, competent, and responsible places. This commitment is not exclusive to the Catholic Church; it must be adopted by all organizations working with children and youth, including schools, sports clubs, non-profits, youth movements, cultural associations, and public and private entities. Protection is a collective duty. For safeguarding to be real and effective, it must be based on three structural principles: transparency, accountability, and compliance. Transparency involves clear processes and open communication. Accountability requires creating structures to explain decisions, document procedures, and respond to victims. Compliance serves as the starting point through codes of conduct and mandatory training, but the institutional culture is what truly protects. It is urgent to abandon informal models based on goodwill and instead implement structured systems, continuous training, and active supervision to address both traditional and emerging risks, such as digital abuse.
For one day, they were newspaper headlines. Lara, eight years old, killed to hurt her father. A four-year-old girl thrown from an eighth floor. Children at the centre of reports against those who should have protected them. Beyond the headlines, what remains is what the headlines silence: what they felt, no one wanted to know.
Following recent cases of children killed within a family context, Manuel Coutinho, president of the Institute for Child Support, discusses risk signs, protection failures, and domestic violence. He emphasises that children exposed to domestic violence are also victims and issues a warning: “Hitting is not an act of love.”
PAN urgently suggests the creation of a national campaign to prevent violence against children, which would allow for the identification of signs of domestic violence and provide information on how to report it and access support.
Document reveals that cases investigated in 2025 are related to the exploitation of minors for begging. Four of the six occurrences were detected in Montijo.
The Communists believe that Portugal 'has good legislation for the protection of children's rights', but lacks the 'resources for its proper implementation'. The solution involves improving the 'functioning of the CPCJ'.
The channel showed the faces of two minor victims of a particularly heinous crime, in a clear violation of the Law for the Protection of Children and Young People in Danger and the Journalists' Code of Ethics.
French authorities must arrange the return of two children, aged 4 and 5, who were found abandoned on a road in Alcácer do Sal. The mother and stepfather were arrested in Fátima and face charges of domestic violence and child abandonment. The children are currently in foster care, and Portuguese judicial authorities are coordinating with the French Embassy to facilitate their repatriation, as French courts hold jurisdiction over their permanent protection and parental responsibilities.
For the first time, the National Commission for the Rights of Children and Young People recorded cases of early or forced marriage. There were 54 last year.
Among the most frequent types of danger, neglect and domestic violence continue to stand out, followed by dangerous behaviours and situations related to the right to education.
The National Commission for the Rights of Children and Young People (CNDCJ) recorded 54 cases of forced marriage for the first time last year, with domestic violence remaining the primary reason for applying protective measures.
The National Commission for the Rights of Children and Youth (CNDCJ) recorded 54 cases of forced marriage last year, marking the first time this category has appeared in the statistics, while domestic violence remains the primary reason for protective measures. The 2025 Activity Report from the Commissions for the Protection of Children and Youth (CPCJ) highlights a 29% structural growth in cases over the last four years, with 94,743 total processes recorded in 2025. Neglect and domestic violence remain the most frequent dangers, with the latter accounting for 6,420 protective measures. The report also notes structural challenges, including staff shortages, with only 27% of commissions having a full complement of members.
“Every child has a fundamental right to protection. The right to a life free from violence and crime.” It was with these words that the European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection opened the debate in the European Parliament.
This is what the Commission for the Protection of Children and Young People at Risk indicated to Observador. Furthermore, the elections for the Constitutional Court are scheduled for June 12.
Bragi Guðbrandsson explained that his “helplessness” regarding a sexual abuse case involving a 10-year-old girl led him to revolutionise the judicial and health response for child victims of violence.
The Institute for Child Support received 618 reports of violence against minors last year. This morning, nearly a thousand children formed a blue ribbon in a park in Lisbon to raise awareness about the issue of child abuse.
The article discusses how parental alienation, while not a recognised clinical diagnosis, represents a real and damaging dynamic in high-conflict custody cases. It highlights the need to distinguish between the lack of a formal medical label and the observable, harmful behaviours—such as manipulation and emotional blackmail—that can alienate a child from a parent. The author advocates for rigorous professional assessment, the use of early family mediation, and a swifter judicial system to protect children from being caught in adult conflicts, ensuring their right to maintain healthy bonds with both parents.
