Declaring there is not another moment to waste, secretary of state for equality Catarina Marcelino has outlined a forward-thinking new plan to tackle Portugal’s abysmal record of violence against women.
Speaking at the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York this week, Marcelino guaranteed Portugal means to “go further, and implement an efficient, impactive national response network” which will involve “far greater articulation between municipalities, NGOs, security forces and all the other entities that act to prevent feminicide” and remove women from their homes and communities “improving the application of the law”.
The bold plan is part of the new “transformational” Agenda 2030, she explained – the “principal objective of which is to eliminate structural obstacles to gender equality and female empowerment”.
Marcelino’s comments come after a North American study published last year highlighted the domestic violence that it claimed “overshadows” human rights in Portugal.
“We don’t have another moment,” she agreed. “The human rights of women and girls are universal, inalienable and inseparable… No one can be left behind.”
Legislation underway promises to “eliminate the pay-gap, increase paternity allowances, promote the conciliation of family and personal lives with the fundamental right of men and women to care, associated to the fundamental duty of caring”, she added, saying education chiefs were also elaborating a programme for schools so that equality and human rights issues were taught at all levels.
