Ombudsman’s Office receives delegation from the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee on the Protection of National Minorities

The Ombudsman’s Office received a delegation from the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee for the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities, as part of its fifth monitoring visit to Portugal, to discuss the human rights situation in the country. The meeting took place on 26 March 2025 at its headquarters, in Lisbon.

During the meeting, the representatives of the Council of Europe sought an in-depth overview of reported cases of discrimination in Portugal, especially against Roma communities. The Ombudsman’s Office shared information about its action in defence of the most vulnerable groups, namely through receiving and processing complaints.

The aim of this monitoring visit is to assess Portugal’s progress and identify persistent challenges, as part of the Council of Europe’s commitment to ensuring the promotion and protection of the rights of national minorities in its member states. The State Report submitted by Portugal in May 2024 and the latest Opinion of the Advisory Committee, dated June 2019, served as the basis for the discussion.

The monitoring visit took place between 24 and 28 March 2025. The programme included meetings with various national entities, with a view to providing a comprehensive diagnosis on the protection of minorities in Portugal.