Human rights. Ombudsman’s Office takes part in the session that concluded the Universal Periodic Review of Portugal

On 24 March, the Ombudsman’s Office took part in the 58th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which considered and debated the final report of the Working Group on the 4th cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Portugal.

Represented by the Deputy Ombudsman, Ravi Afonso Pereira, the State body valued Portugal’s efforts to fulfil its international human rights commitments, drawing attention to the challenges that remain for two particularly vulnerable groups: the elderly and people with disabilities.

Established in 2006, the UPR is one of the most important instruments of the United Nations Human Rights Council, held every four and a half years in the form of an interactive dialogue between the state under review and the other UN member states.

As a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) accredited with ‘A’ status, the Ombudsman played an active role in this process, submitting observations and recommendations on the human rights situation in Portugal. In April 2024, it submitted an alternative report and took part in the pre-session in August of that year.

Portugal received 281 recommendations, of which 252 were accepted and 29 taken note of by the Portuguese state.

The video of the 58th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council can be viewed here.