Portuguese law deliberates that if a group of people because of their belonging to a particular race, color, sex, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or gender identity is subject to discrimination, it is punished for discriminatory behavior. These behaviors, due to their severity, together with what is contemplated by Portuguese law, are sanctioned as crimes or offenses.
In the context of crimes, there are hate crimes. They are those who address not only the victim, but their group of belonging. These are crimes that can be translated as a form of physical or verbal aggression and are committed against a person because they belong to a certain ethnicity, color, origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ideology or social, physical or mental condition.
Any complaints, as a victim of discrimination, that fall within the scope of Law No. 93/2017, of 23 August, can be filed with the Technical Support Office of the Commission for Equality and Against Racial Discrimination (CICDR). When the complaint is done to an entity other than CICDR, it must be forward it to CICDR.
Regarding the labor market, the Commission for Equality in Work and Employment (CITE), in partnership with the Authority for Working Conditions (ACT), develops mechanisms that help to inspect situations of discriminatory labor practices. In this sense, the worker / candidate is entitled to equal opportunities and treatment in terms of:
- Access to a job, training and promotion or professional career and working conditions
- The exclusion or restriction of access of job seekers or workers to a specific activity or to professional training, due to gender, constitutes discrimination based on gender
- Job advertisement cannot have changes / restrictions based on gender
- Matters related to special protection of genetic heritage, pregnancy, parenting, adoption;
- Legal provisions related to the exercise of a professional activity by a foreign citizen or stateless person;
- Dismissing, sanctioning or harming in any other way a disabled worker due to the exercise of his right or legal action against discriminatory practice;
- Harassment, among others.
In disability discrimination, there is also legislation that protects against discriminatory behavior, namely:
- Prevention of enjoying goods or services
- Prohibition or limitation on participating in economic activities
- Hinder or refuse access to residence, housing or rental contracts
- Restriction on the use of sign language
- Hinder access to buildings or public places
- Restriction on the use of public transport
- Prohibition or limitation to educational establishments, as well as specific support that is requested
- Preventing or limiting access to new technologies, among others.
In short, it is illegal to practice any discriminatory behavior based on a person’s sex, age, disability, ethnic or racial origin, religion, beliefs or sexual orientation.
Denounces: discriminatory act related to your professional life should go to the Authority for Conditions at Work (ACT). If it is a crime: The crimes can be reported to the police or prosecutors.
Victim Discrimination Denounces http://www.cicdr.pt/queixa
- Complete identification (name, identification document number, expiration date, taxpayer number, address, telephone contact and email address);
- Detailed description of all the facts and circumstances in which the discriminatory practices occurred, written in an objective way, with specific data, such as the date and place, as well as the fullest possible identification of the alleged authors;
- Indication of witnesses if any (name, contact address, telephone, e-mail)
External Link
Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP)
Comissão para a Igualdade no Trabalho e no Emprego (CITE)
Autoridade para as Condições do Trabalho (ACT)
Comissão para a Igualdade e Contra a Discriminação Racial – http://www.cicdr.pt
