PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY IN RESEARCH Legal framework Portugal has several statutory provisions aimed at promoting gender equality and equal opportunities for women and men. As of September 2021, however, it has not adopted any corresponding laws, including for higher education institutions (HEIs) and research organisations. As a country that effectively fulfils its human rights and inclusion commitments, Portugal has prioritised intervention in gender equality issues through the constitutional principles of equality and non-discrimination.
The promotion of equality between women and men and non-discrimination is one of the spheres of activity of IST (part of the University of Lisbon)[1]. IST launched an innovative measure at national level in 2016 to facilitate the reconciliation of professional activity and personal/family life. The initiative exempts professors who have taken parental leave (at least 100 days) from teaching duties, with the possibility of hiring non-permanent staff in departments with a lack of teaching staff.
This initiative is based on a protocol between FCT and the national Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG) established in 2008, which aims at the development of public policies to promote GE as well as strengthening research activities for the advancement of scientific knowledge in GE. FCT and CIG are also responsible for the initiative The GenderResearch4COVID-19 support. It aims at developing knowledge and helps addressing, in the short term, the pressing constraints placed on the individual/family/economy by the gendered social relations and reactions to the pandemic.
This initiative is based on a protocol between FCT and the national Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG) established in 2008, which aims at the development of public policies to promote GE as well as strengthening research activities for the advancement of scientific knowledge in GE. FCT and CIG are also responsible for the initiative The GenderResearch4COVID-19 support. It aims at developing knowledge and helps addressing, in the short term, the pressing constraints placed on the individual/family/economy by the gendered social relations and reactions to the pandemic.
This initiative is based on a protocol between FCT and the national Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG) established in 2008, which aims at the development of public policies to promote GE as well as strengthening research activities for the advancement of scientific knowledge in GE. FCT and CIG are also responsible for the initiative The GenderResearch4COVID-19 support. It aims at developing knowledge and helps addressing, in the short term, the pressing constraints placed on the individual/family/economy by the gendered social relations and reactions to the pandemic.
Law no. 26/2019 (28 March) which foresees a minimum threshold of 40 % of women and men as senior leaders of direct and indirect state administration. As a result, various HEIs set out measures in their GEPs that targeted the governing and management bodies of different teaching and research units to comply with this law (e.g. University of Coimbra, ISCTE-IUL, IGOT University of Lisbon).
Data collection systems vary widely across EU Member States, as they draw on various sources. To improve the collection of administrative data on femicide, EIGE has been working to establish indicators that can harmonise data collection processes across Member States’ jurisdictions. EIGE has collected information from a wide variety of stakeholders through a questionnaire sent to official data providers and an online survey filled in by national experts.
Parental leave is granted to parents, usually after maternity and paternity leave, allowing mothers and fathers to take care of their young children without losing their jobs. Such a policy exists in all EU Member States and in Portugal it is called Licença parental complementar. The policy design and eligibility rules vary across the EU and not all women and men in the EU are eligible for parental leave.
With 61.3 out of 100 points, Portugal ranks 16th in the EU on the Gender Equality Index. Its score is 6.6 points below the EU’s score. Since 2010, Portugal’s score has increased by 7.6 points. The country is progressing towards gender equality faster than other EU Member States. Its ranking has improved by four places since 2010. Further information Explore the Gender Equality Index 2020 Gender Equality Index 2020:
With 59.9 out of 100 points, Portugal ranks 16th in the EU on the Gender Equality Index. Its score is 7.5 points lower than the EU’s score. Between 2005 and 2017, Portugal’s score increased by 10 points (+ 3.9 points since 2015). Portugal is progressing towards gender equality faster than other EU Member States. Its ranking has improved by seven places since 2005.
The recommendations were developed after an in-depth analysis of data collection from the police and justice sectors. They aim to improve administrative data collection on intimate partner violence to better inform policies and to help the Member States meet the monitoring requirements outlined in both Directive 2012/29/EU (the Victims’ Rights Directive) and the Istanbul Convention. Read more Data collection on intimate partner violence by the police and justice sectors - all EU countries Indicators on intimate partner violence and rape for the police and justice sectors EIGE's work on data collection on violence against women
The Gender Equality Index 2017 examines the progress and challenges in achieving gender equality across the European Union from 2005 to 2015. Using a scale from 1 (full inequality) to 100 (full equality), it measures the differences between women and men in key domains of the EU policy framework (work, money, knowledge, time, power and health). The Index also measures violence against women and intersecting inequalities.
