"The coordination of the Working Group is the responsibility of the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG), which ensures the necessary logistical and administrative support for its operation, including the convening and conducting of meetings," indicates the decree from the Deputy Secretary of State for Youth and Equality, Carla Maria de Pinho Rodrigues.
With the mission of "presenting to the member of the Government responsible for the area of equality proposals and recommendations aimed at strengthening the prevention, protection, intervention and monitoring of phenomena associated with child, early and forced marriages, female genital mutilation and honour crimes", the group will operate for about six months (182 days), and must then present to the Government "a report on the results of the work carried out".
In addition to assessing the adequacy of the legislation, the group may analyse the coordination among the various sectors involved, identify training needs, and "propose awareness campaigns and prevention strategies aimed at affected communities, professionals and the general public".
Starting on 10 September and within 10 days, the members of the group will be appointed, including representatives from the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), the Attorney General's Office, the security forces, the Directorate-General of Health, the Social Security Institute and the National Commission for the Rights of Children and Adolescents, among other entities.
The working group will also include five other people representing civil society, such as Beatriz Imperatori of UNICEF Portugal and Vanessa Lopes of Rizoma Associação.
According to the order, the group may also request the collaboration of, or consult, other people who, as its members, will not be entitled to "payment of any remuneration or allowance for the work carried out".














Funny, Portugal never had a problem with female genital mutilation in the past. What happened? Of course, everybody knows what happened but they just can't mention that nasty elephant in the room - EU rules I guess..
By Tony from USA on 10 Sep 2026, 01:00
Unlike the article I suggest that the comment made is unhelpful and ill informed.
Female genital mutilation, honour killings and child brides are very real in 2026.
Not just from the colonial past that Made America Great.
By rod clifford from UK on 11 Sep 2026, 09:29