In its first report on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (“Istanbul Convention”) by Portugal, the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) acknowledges the significant commitment of the Portuguese authorities and the progress achieved. However, the report also points out a number of shortcomings and recommends measures to improve the protection of victims, the prosecution of offenders, as well as prevention measures.
Following the ratification by Portugal of the convention in 2013, the scope of public policies was widened and other forms of violence against women such ask stalking, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage were criminalised. GREVIO welcomes the efforts in the area of FGM that resulted in three consecutive programmes of action specifically targeting this form of violence, which makes Portugal a pioneer in the area. GREVIO calls on Portugal to develop long-term programmes addressing all forms of violence covered by the convention and to build on progress already achieved.
GREVIO praises the role the national co-ordination body (CIG) to ensure implementation, monitoring and evaluation of gender-equality policies and gender-based violence. Nevertheless, it finds that the implementation of national action plans on violence against women would benefit from a more robust co-ordination between the governmental agencies. At the operational level, the impact of Law No.112/2009 on domestic violence could be improved, in particular by means of a greater involvement of local authorities.