Source: http://direitoshumanos.gddc.pt/Textos/cerd-4-ing.htm
Timestamp: 2017-10-19 05:28:32
Document Index: 571468974

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\n1', 'ART 1', 'art. 19', 'art. 1', 'art. 6', 'art. 4', 'art. 7']

PORTUGAL §
1. PART 1 - 19
2. PART II 20 - 257
4. Article 3 3 55 - 66
B. The right to security of the person and protection by the State against violence or bodily harm
6. The third and fourth reports naturally take account of the Committee’s guidelines (CERD/C/70/Rev.1) which are an essential working document for the planning and structure of the report.
7. In paragraph (c) of Part I of the Committee’s Revised General Guidelines. States parties to the Convention are requested to provide information in connection with General Recommendation IV, adopted by the Committee on 16 August 1973, on the demographic composition of their population.
10. However, in view of the interest shown by the Committee in this issue, some figures are given below indicating the demographic composition of the Portuguese population, on the basis of the country of origin of foreigners residing in Portugal.
Foreign residents in Portugal at the end of 1988
11. At the end of 1988, the Aliens Department had issued 4,675 residence permits and 118 passports to foreigners.
14. In 1988, 240 procedures were initiated and asylum was granted to seven persons:
15. A third set of data concerns applications to retain or acquire Portuguese nationality under Decree-law 308-A/75 of 24 June. At the time of the April 1974 revolution, when the former overseas territories gained independence, thousands of persons, most of them Portuguese nationals who had been residing and working in the territories, returned to Portugal. Approximately 1 million persons arrived in Portugal in 1974-75.
29. Portugal’s recognition of this fact has led it increasingly to develop training activities for judges, members of the police force and prison personnel, by focusing increasing attention on human rights in the various curricula.
“Portugal is committed to strengthening its European identity and the activities of European States on behalf of peace, economic progress and justice within relations between peoples.”
33. The previous reports, together with their presentation, have revealed Portugal’s determination to condemn, as well as to adopt measures to prohibit, all forms of racial discrimination, and at the same time to protect rights, freedoms and safeguards in general.
34. This can be seen from several provisions of the Portuguese Constitution, and Portugal’s domestic legislation seeks to reaffirm it by pursuing these aims. Reference is made below to some texts which reflect this concern.
37. The constitutional provision governing the state of siege or of emergency (art. 19) was amended, as part of the second constitutional reform, in order more clearly to establish the scope of those régimes (paras. 2 and 3) and to stress the principles of proportionality and necessity with respect to the measures adopted under the régimes.
45. Legal protection will consist of judicial assistance and legal advice granted to anyone unable to afford a lawyer’s fees or court costs.
50. The Constitutional Court recently handed down a decision on the General Service Regulations of the National Republican Guard (a special corps of troops intended for security, the maintenance of law and order and the protection and defense of the population), adopted by Order 722/85, of 25 September, and mentioned in Portugal’s most recent report (CERD/C/126/Add.3, para. 44).
55. Portugal firmly condemns apartheid and considers its abolition essential for peace and development in southern Africa.
56. Portugal recognizes as legitimate the aspiration of the majority of South Africans to a régime ensuring full citizenship and equal enjoyment of civil and social rights. Discrimination with respect to access to employment, justice and education that is based on colour is contrary to Portugal’s principles. Portugal understands the need to put an end to the intolerable injustices brought about by the apartheid régime and has always unreservedly supported this goal both in the United Nations General Assembly and in other bodies and specialized agencies, such as the Commission on Human Rights and the International Labour Organisation.
58. The primary aim of these negotiations, in our opinion, should be to define the means necessary to bring about the full rule of law, based on the principle of “one man, one vote” and respect for human rights.
59. The release of Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid leaders, the end of the state of emergency (except in Natal Province), the meetings held between the Government and the organizations representing the black majority, and the repeal of the Separate Amenities Act are all signs of a new climate of developing dialogue in South Africa, heralding the emergence in the near future of a democratic and non-racialist régime.
62. The international community should give careful consideration to the economic, social and political problems which the new South African régime will have to face. Portugal is participating, together with the other members of the European Community, in a Special Program of Assistance to the Victims of Apartheid, and shares the view that the support of the international community will be a decisive factor in building a new, democratic and prosperous South Africa. The two major Portuguese commercial undertakings in South Africa (Bank of Lisbon and South Africa and TAP/Air Portugal) are governed by the Code of Conduct for Companies with Subsidiary Branches or Representation in South Africa, adopted in 1977 by the European Community and binding for Portugal since its accession to the EEC. This Code enshrines the principles of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all workers.
65. Portugal has steadfastly advocated dialogue and persuasion as the means of bringing about a democratic régime in South Africa. It has endorsed the many representations, decisions and efforts undertaken in that respect since January 1986 by the European Community, has co-operated in the numerous initiatives taken under United Nations auspices and has established bilateral contacts with various representative sectors of South African society.
66. In this spirit, Portugal welcomes the recent progress made towards the abolition of apartheid and, while fully aware of the remaining obstacles to the achievement of full democracy in South Africa, appeals to the international community to urge all South African citizens to work together to build a new, democratic and prosperous régime.
70. Act 64/78 on Fascist organizations prohibits the formation of organizations that advocate violence or uphold fascism, i.e., “the adoption, support or dissemination of values, principles, institutions or methods … specifically warmongering, violence as a form of political struggle, colonialism, racism …”
73. In this spirit, and in conformity with the journalists’ code of ethics (specifically the stipulation, contained in the first chapter, that journalists must observe the fundamental principles of human rights and refrain from encouraging racial hatred), the Press Council issued, in July 1988, a recommendation in connection with a series of newspaper articles which, in the Council’s opinion, contained disparaging statements based on race, colour or ethnic origin, thus inciting to racial hatred.
75. A movement has recently spread to Portugal of persons known as “skinheads”, who believe in racial superiority and advocate violent and militaristic behaviour.
78. At present, groups of “skinheads” are found only in large cities such as Lisbon and Porto. They have been responsible for serious incidents, including the murder in Lisbon of a member of a political party, the Partido Socialista Revolucionário (PSR).
79. These incidents have been reported by the mass media, and the movement’s activities are closely watched by the judicial authorities and the police.
80. The Office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic has ordered an inquiry aimed at identifying these groups of “skinheads”, determining their characteristics and discovering their possible connections with other groups or organizations suspected of similar activities, with a view to their punishment.
84. At the same time, following Portugal’s ratification of the two international covenants on human rights, the submission of reports to the monitoring bodies established under those instruments has naturally continued - see in particular the second report on the application of civil and political rights (CCPR/C/42/Add.1) submitted in November 1This report covers in greater detail the measures adopted in pursuance of the provisions of the Covenant and giving effect to article 5, paragraphs (a) and (d), of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
“1. Everyone shall be guaranteed access to the law and to the courts to defend his or her rights and legitimate interests, and justice may not be denied to a person for lack of financial resources.
“2. Everyone has the right, in accordance with the law, to legal information and consultation and to legal assistance.”
(b) Secondly, in recognition of the universal nature of the right to legal information and legal consultation and protection, the expression “all citizens” in the article has been replaced by “everyone”.
92. The system which has been established aims to ensure that “no one shall encounter difficulties or be prevented, by virtue of his social or cultural circumstances or through lack of economic resources, from becoming aware of his rights, asserting them or protecting them” (art. 1, para. 1, of Decree-Law 387-B/87).
93. The law provides that these objectives will be attained through systematic action and mechanisms of “legal information” and “legal protection”. Legal protection takes two forms: legal assistance and legal advice (art. 6 of Decree-Law 387-B/87).
101. Article 23 of the Constitution provides that citizens may apply to the Provedor de Justiça (Ombudsman) in connection with actions or omissions by the authorities. The new revision of the Constitution, re-affirming this concern with the right to equal treatment, emphasized the independence of the office with an explicit reference in article 23, paragraph 3: “The office of the Provedor de Justiça shall be an independent organ, and he or she shall be appointed by the Assembly of the Republic”.
102. Furthermore, a new paragraph has been added stipulating that the organs and staff of the administrative authorities must co-operate with the Provedor de Justiça” in the performance of his or her functions (art. para. 4).
“Everyone, personally or through associations for the protection of the interests in question, shall be granted the right of popular action in the cases and on the conditions stipulated by law, in particular the right to promote the prevention, cessation or judicial prosecution of offences against public health, degradation of the environment and the quality of life and degradation of the cultural heritage, as well as the right to seek appropriate compensation for the victim or victims of such offences”.
“The organs and staff of the administrative authorities shall be subject to the Constitution and the law, and must, in performing their functions, respect the principles of equality, proportionality, justice and impartiality”.
(a) A new paragraph 2 has been inserted which provides that “Citizens shall also have the right of access to administrative archives and registries, without prejudice to the provisions of the law relating to national and external security, criminal investigation and personal privacy”;
“3. (formerly 2) Administrative decisions shall be notified to the interested parties in the manner provided by law, and must be properly substantiated when they affect the legally protected rights or interests of citizens.
“4. (formerly 3) All interested parties shall have the right to lodge an appeal against any administrative decision, regardless of its form, which harms their legally protected rights or interests.
“5. Citizens shall also have the right of access to the administrative courts to secure their legally protected rights or interests.
“6. For the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2, the law shall set a time-limit for the response of the administrative authorities”.
(b) Equality in law for the prosecution and for the defense in respect of all procedural acts, and material equality as regards the availability of “weapons” in the proceedings.
111. Under article 92, “If any person who does not know or has an inadequate knowledge of the Portuguese language is involved in the proceedings, a competent interpreter shall be appointed, without charge, even if the presiding judicial officer or one of the participants in the proceedings knows the language used”.
113. Portugal, recognizing the State’s responsibility for the prevention of torture and the punishment of those responsible for it, ratified the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment on 9 February 1989 and has recognized the competence of the Committee to receive and examine communications from another State party or an individual alleging violations of a provision of the Convention (see resolution 11/88 of the Assembly of the Republic, dated 21 May).
(a) Article 27, paragraph 4, now recognizes that “Any person deprived of his freedom shall be informed immediately and in a comprehensible manner of the reasons for his arrest or detention and of his rights”,
(b) Following the amendment of the Constitution, article 28, paragraph 2, provides that: “remand in custody shall not be continued if it can be replaced by bail or by a more favorable measure provided for by law”;
(c) Lastly, article 30 contains a new paragraph 5 under which “convicted persons who have been sentenced to a custodial penalty or measure shall retain their fundamental rights, subject to the restrictions provided for in the sentence and the requirements arising from its enforcement”.
118. The Constitutional Amendment Act introduced a number of important changes in this area. With regard to the status of aliens, article 15, paragraph 4 recognizes that: “the law may grant aliens residing in the national territory, on the basis of reciprocity, the capacity to vote in elections to local legislative bodies”.
“1. The political parties and trade union and professional organizations and those representing economic activities shall have the right to broadcasting time on the public radio and television service, in keeping with their representativeness and in accordance with objective criteria to be defined by law.
“2. The political parties represented in the Assembly of the Republic which do not participate in the Government shall have the right, in accordance with the law, to broadcasting time on the public radio and television service, allocated in accordance with their representativeness, as well as the right of reply and the right of political reply to political statements made by the Government on a basis of equality in terms of duration and size with the space and statements allocated to the Government.
“3. At election time, the candidates shall have the right to regular and fairly apportioned broadcasting time on national and regional radio and television broadcasting stations, in accordance with the law.”
“No one may suffer prejudice in an assignment, in his employment, in his professional career or in the social benefits to which he is entitled by reason of the exercise of his political rights or the performance of political functions”
“As far as access to elective offices is concerned, the law may only specify the cases of passive electoral incapacity which are necessary to guarantee the electors’ freedom of choice, together with immunity and independence in the exercise of the functions of such offices.”
“Political parties holding seats in the Assembly of the Republic which are not represented in the Government shall have the right, inter alia, to be informed regularly and periodically by the Government of progress in the principal matters of public interest, and political parties represented in any other assembly to which direct elections are held shall enjoy the same right vis-à-vis, the corresponding executives on which they do not sit”.
“1. Citizens with the right to vote who are registered in the national territory may be called upon to express their views directly by means of an obligatory vote in a referendum following a decision of the President of the Republic, on a proposal by the Assembly of the Republic or the Government, in such cases and conditions as are provided in the Constitution and by law.
“2. The referendum may relate only to issues of major national importance on which the Assembly of the Republic or the Government must take a decision by approving an~ international convention or a legislative measure.
“3. The following, inter alia, shall be excluded from the scope of a referendum: amendments to the Constitution, the matters referred to in articles 164 and 167 of the Constitution (relating to the political and legislative powers of the Assembly of the Republic and matters which are of its sole competence) and issues and measures relating to budgetary, fiscal or financial matters.
“4. Each referendum shall deal with a single issue. The questions posed shall be formulated in yes/no terms, in an objective, clear and precise manner, and the maximum number of questions shall be specified in a law, which must also stipulate the other requirements for the formulation and conduct of the referendum.
126. Effects — the final conviction of holders of public office may, depending on the case, give rise to loss of office or resignation, and, in the case of the President of the Republic, loss of the right to be re-elected (arts. 28-31).
128. The accession of Portugal to the European Communities naturally called for the specification in its legislation of the requirements for entry into, sojourn in and departure from the territory for nationals of member States and members of their family, in conformity with the relevant directives of the Community’s institutions.
“4. Conscientious objectors shall perform a civilian service which is of the same duration as arduous armed military service.
“5. The civilian service may be established as a substitute for or to supplement military service and may be made compulsory by law for citizens not subject to military service.”
138. Act 6/85 of 4 May endorsed the legal system of conscientious objection, included provisions on civilian service (art. 4 et seq.) and took account of the conscientious objector’s interests, capacity for self-denial and literary and occupational skills (art. 7).
140. Decree-Law 91-87 of 27 February specifies the fields in which the service must be performed, its duration, the structure of the civilian service, the remuneration and social benefits of conscientious objectors, the objector’s duties and the conditions of travel abroad. In addition, an Office for the Civilian Service of Conscientious Objectors has been set up within the Office of the President of the Council of Ministers.
“(b) Coexistence of the public sector and the co-operative and social sector in the ownership of the means of production;
(e) Protection of the co-operative and social sector of ownership of the means of production.”
145. In addressing the priorities of the State in this area, in article 81, the Constitution recognizes the need (para. (e)): “to eliminate and prevent the formation of private monopolies and to check the abuses of economic power and all practices which may harm the general interest”. In addition, the need is recognized (para. (h)) to “do away with large estates (latifundia) and develop smallholdings (minifundi)”.
“1. The coexistence of three sectors of ownership of the means of production is guaranteed.
(c) means of production that are operated collectively by the workers.”
147. On the question of collective appropriation article 83 provides that “the law shall determine the methods and forms of collective intervention and appropriation of the means of production and of land, as well as the criteria for calculating compensation”.
“(d) Promotion of the well-being and quality of life of the people and genuine equality among as well as the effective realization of economic, rights, through transformation and modernization of the and social structures;
(f) Provision of education and continuing education and defense of the use and promotion of the international dissemination of the Portuguese language.”
“(a) by the operation of a universal and general national health service which provides care that is generally free of charge, depending, however, on individual economic and social circumstances;
(c) by directing its activity towards the socialization of the cost of medical care and medicines.”
“1. Young people, particularly those at work, shall receive special protection to ensure effective realization of their economic, social and cultural rights:
3. The State, in conjunction with families, schools, enterprises, local residents’ committees, cultural associations and foundations and recreational bodies, shall encourage and support youth organizations in the pursuit of these aims, and in all forms of international exchange among young people.”
“The State shall promote the democratization of culture by encouraging and ensuring access by all citizens to the enjoyment of culture and cultural creation, in collaboration with the mass media, cultural associations and foundations, recreational bodies, associations for the protection of the cultural heritage, local residents’ associations and other cultural groups.”
“Education should contribute to overcoming economic, social and cultural inequalities, to enabling citizens to participate democratically in a free society and to promoting mutual understanding, tolerance and a spirit of solidarity.”
“The law shall prohibit work by minors of school age.”
“The system of access to university and other higher education institutions shall ensure equality of opportunity and the democratization of education, having due regard to Portugal’s need for skilled senior personnel and for the attainment of a higher level in the fields of education, culture and science.”
156. By an act of 1987 (Act 33/87 of 11 July), the Assembly of the Republic introduced legislation on students’ associations, granting them a set of rights and benefits designed to defend the interests of the students in their school life and in society.
161. Government has shown the importance it attaches to the development and improvement of systems for providing help to persons and families in an isolated, dependent or underprivileged situation, particularly the elderly and the disabled, by giving official status to “home helpers” under Decree-Law 141/89 of 28 April.
164. Certain requirements must be met to become a “home helper”, namely:
172. In our observations relating to article 5, paragraph (a), reference was made to several provisions, including article 20 on access to the law and recourse to the courts, article 23 on the Provedor de Justiça (Ombudsman) and article 52 on the right of petition.
“Officials and employees of the State and of other public bodies shall be liable to civil, criminal or disciplinary proceedings in respect of actions or omissions in the exercise of their functions or caused by such exercise which result in infringement of those rights or interests of the individual that are protected by law; the taking of action or proceedings against such an employee shall in no case be subject to approval by a higher authority.”
180. With Portugal’s ratification, on 9 February 1989, of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and its recognition of the competence of the Committee under article 22, a new safeguard has been established against violation of a fundamental right. Any person under Portugal’s jurisdiction may thus submit to this Committee a communication claiming that he has suffered an act of torture.
181. By an order made in April, the Minister of Justice launched a program entitled “The Citizen and Justice” which aims to establish closer links between citizens — who are entitled to justice — and the public system for the administration of justice.
182. This program is designed to increase citizens’ understanding of this system and to facilitate their access to and their participation in it. It will therefore include information campaigns, propose methods for increasing the efficiency of the services concerned and create opportunities for organized community action.
(a) To contribute to the defense of the national identity and to strengthen fidelity to Portugal’s historical traditions, through development of awareness of the Portuguese cultural heritage within the context of the European universalist tradition and of the increasing interdependence of the world’s peoples and the need for international solidarity;
(b) This right implies preservation of the language and culture of the children’s parents;
(c) The education provided must be such that the children’s studies will be recognized if the children return to Portugal.
208. In conclusion, reference must be made to the importance the Portuguese Government attaches to realization of the rights of migrant workers. This has led it to ratify, in 1978, the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers, on the implementation of which it submits regular reports. In. the same spirit, it is participating in the work at the United Nations to prepare a convention on this subject.
209. The Government’s interest in this subject led it to hold at Funchal, in 1983, in collaboration with the Council of Europe, a symposium on the human rights of foreigners in Europe. The conclusions of this symposium still constitute a reference document for the Council’s work.
211. Education in Portugal also observes the principle of promotion of a democratic and pluralist spirit, respectful of others and of their opinions, within the framework of the European universalist tradition and the growing interdependence and solidarity among all the world’s peoples.
216. It is recognized that it will be important to ensure the motivation of the gipsy families so that they follow their children’s schooling in a responsible manner. The Ministry of Education is currently taking action to this end, with the support of social solidarity institutions such as the Misericórdias.
234. The training of teachers is naturally of particular importance and there is increasing attendance of the classes of the Institut René Cassin at Strasbourg, and those organized by L’école Instrument de Paix, a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the United Nations.
235. In late 1988, the Portuguese Government, recognizing the importance of human rights teaching, set up a Commission to promote human rights and combat inequalities in education, expressly responsible ‘for studying the multi-disciplinary nature of this approach and recommending steps to be taken to strengthen its study and increase awareness on the part of teachers and pupils (Order 195/ME/88, of 12 December).
237. For example, the knowledge imparted to these professions regarding recourse to international bodies - such as the Strasbourg instances and the Human Rights Committee — is of vital importance to them.
242. The classes cover, in addition to the historical development of human rights, the universal nature of those rights, non-discrimination, legal information and protection, the activities of the Provedor de Justiça (the Ombudsman) and those of the courts. Considerable attention is paid, moreover, to study of the regional and universal systems for the protection of human rights.
246. Lastly, the Physicians’ Deontological Code, which establishes principles with regard to the use of torture, as the report mentions in connection with article 7 of the Covenant, also reflects the importance that is attached to training and professional activity. The Code even requires refusal to give up premises, instruments or medicines or to transmit scientific knowledge which would permit recourse to violence.
247. The Government program submitted to the Assembly of the Republic and adopted by a majority reasserts in its chapter on culture the principle of access by all Portuguese citizens to culture and the State’s duty to promote culture in its development strategy and enjoyment of conditions and structures which will afford creative artists the necessary means of expression within the framework of the Constitution.
(c) Encouragement of cultural exchanges in order to emphasize Portugal’s presence in the world and enrich Portuguese cultural values in the constant encounter with other countries;
“2. Freedom of the press shall signify:
(a) Freedom of expression and creation for journalists and literary contributors, and a place for the former in the editorial orientation of public information media, unless they belong to the State or are of a doctrinaire or confessional nature.”
“3. The law shall generally ensure that the ownership and the means of financing of the public information media are disclosed.
4. The State shall ensure the freedom and independence of the information media vis-à-vis those possessing political or economic power, by imposing the principle of specificity of the enterprises owning general information media, treating them and supporting them in non-discriminatory fashion and preventing their concentration, particularly through multiple or interlocking shareholdings.”
This report contains the third and fourth periodic reports, which were scheduled to be submitted on 23 September 1987 and 23 September 1989 respectively.
For the initial and second periodic reports submitted by the Government of Portugal, and the summary records of meetings at which those reports were considered, see:
Initial report — CERD/C/101/Add. 8 (CERD/C/SR.727, 728 and 730);
Second periodic report — CERD/C/126/Add. 3 (CERD/C/SR.820 and 822).