Domestic violence in Portugal may face minimal penalties, according to the Council of Europe's warning.
Portugal Urged to Introduce Mandatory Training for Judges to Combat Lenient Sanctions in Violence Cases
Experts from the Council of Europe's Independent Experts Group on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention (GREVIO) have called upon Portuguese authorities to adopt measures to address gaps in the application of the Convention, particularly lenient and disproportionate sanctions issued by the judicial power in cases of domestic and sexual violence.
In a report released on Monday, GREVIO commends Portugal for significant progress in recent years in implementing measures to combat violence against women. However, the experts argue that urgent actions are necessary in certain areas to fully comply with the Istanbul Convention.
The Istanbul Convention, a Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, aims to protect women against all forms of violence and discrimination. Portugal ratified the treaty in 2013.
The experts advocate for initial and in-service training for members of the judiciary on all forms of violence against women. This training is intended to address and reduce lenient and disproportionate sanctions issued by courts in cases of domestic and sexual violence.
The group of experts also recommends strengthening the law enforcement response to all cases of violence against women, ensuring accountability for law enforcement agents who fail to protect victims, preventing the suspension and attrition of criminal proceedings, and reforming family court practices.
Among other recommendations, GREVIO suggests the removal of the requirement for access to a shelter to be conditional upon a report of violence, and the abolition of mandatory victim attendance at parental conference hearings in custody and visitation proceedings.
While Portugal has made notable long-term efforts in various sectors, as acknowledged by GREVIO, the experts also praise measures taken to raise awareness about the problem of female genital mutilation and the positive effect on victims' confidence brought by the victim support offices integrated into the work of the Public Ministry's offices.
However, the experts highlight the lack of a national telephone line dedicated to women victims of all forms of violence that operates 24/7, the need for more places in shelters for families, and the overall requirement to increase the availability of specialized support services for women victims in the medium and long term.
- To further combat lenient sanctions in domestic and sexual violence cases, the experts from GREVIO suggest mandatory training for judges in Portugal should focus on mental-health aspects, therapies-and-treatments, and health-and-wellness concerning women's health.
- With an aim to address the current gaps and comply fully with the Istanbul Convention, the experts advocate for the introduction of specialized training programs in science and mental-health for members of the Portuguese judiciary, focusing on understanding the impact of violence on women's health and well-being.
- In addition to improving the judiciary's understanding of violence against women, experts from GREVIO recommend the expansion of health-and-wellness services, encompassing both mental and physical care, for all victims of violence in Portugal, reflecting the commitment towards overall women's health and well-being as outlined in the Istanbul Convention.
