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| Portugal | |
 Flag of Portugal | |
| Population (in Mil.) | 10.7 |
 Sex Ratio (m/f)
| 0,95 |
 Life Expectancy Ratio (f/m)
| 1.08 |
 Fertility Rate
| 1.38 |
 Income Ratio (f/m)
| 0.6 |
 Literacy Ratio (f/m)
| n/a |
 Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (f/m)
| 1,32 |
 Women in Parliament (in %)
| 21,3 |
| SIGI Rank | - |
| More information on variables | |
Contents |
Overview
Portugal ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women in 1980, one of the first member states of the United Nations to do so.
Legislation
The Constitution states (art. 13) the equality of all citizens in dignity and before the law, and forbids all forms of discrimination (deprivation of any right or exemption from any duty) with regard to sex. The Commission for Equality in Labour and Employment (CITE), created in 1979, is the main body set up to fight discrimination and promote equal employment opportunities in Portugal.
Domestic Violence has emerged as a national concern in Portugal. In 2005 the government established the Portuguese Structure against Domestic Violence (EMCVD), which launched a nationwide awareness campaign against domestic violence, trained health professionals, proposed legislation to improve legal assistance to victims, increased the number of safe houses for victims of domestic violence, and signed protocols with local authorities to assist victims. The law provides for criminal penalties in cases of violence by a spouse, and the judicial system prosecuted persons accused of abusing women; however, traditional societal attitudes still discouraged many battered women from using the judicial system.
Abortion was legalised in 2007 after a national referendum, with 59% support.
Employment
Portugal introduced the Law on Equal Opportunities and Equal Treatment for Men and Women in Work, Employment and Vocational Training in 1979. However, the position of women continues to be unfavourable in a number of areas:
- even though Portugal's active female population is one of the highest in the European Union, both the number of women in the workforce and the average monthly earnings of women are lower than those of their male counterparts;
- women are more likely than men to be unemployed;
- women are under-represented in positions requiring higher qualifications, but over-represented in those sectors traditionally identified as "female"; and
- women are more likely than men to be part-time workers, work on fixed-term contracts, receive the minimum wage and work at home.
Political Empowerment
Women were given the right to vote in 1931 (only to the ones with a degree or with secondary school; men could vote provided that they could read and write). In 2006, Parliament passed legislation requiring that each sex make up at least a third of the candidates from any political party participating in european, national or local elections.
Sources
- CEDAW, Sixth Annual Country Report (Portugal)ˆ, (2007)
- http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/2001/07/feature/pt0107158f.htm
- http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78833.htm
- http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/gems/eeo/law/portugal/dep2.htm
The Women, Business and the Law
Where are laws equal for men and women? 
The Women, Business and the Law report presents indicators based on laws and regulations affecting women's prospects as entrepreneurs and employees. Several of these indicators draw on the Gender Law Library, a collection of over 2,000 legal provisions impacting women's economic status. This report does not seek to judge or rank countries, but to provide information to inform discussions about women’s economic rights. Covering 128 economies, Women, Business and the Law provides data covering 6 areas: accessing institutions,using property, getting a job, dealing with taxes, building credit, and going to court.Read more about the methodology.
For detailed information on Portugal, please visit the Women, Business and
the Law Portugal page.
