Portugal close to making public crime violation. European directive presses the PSD

The European directive that requires more measures to combat violence against women can be a final push for the PSD to make proposals to make violation a public crime.

Portugal is close to being an exception in Europe with regard to violation, with parliament near making it public. After years of parliamentary impasses, the PSD prepares to enable proposals that classify sexual violation and coercion as public crimes, a significant change that would equate these crimes to domestic violence in legal terms.

The party’s decision, which will be discussed this Thursday and voted on Friday, represents a turning point after years of abstentions and votes against the PSD. According to the, the decisive impulse will have coming from the European Directive Approved in April 2024, which requires the Member States advances in combating violence against women and domestic violence. The deadline for implementing this directive ends in 2027, increasing the pressure to act.

Internally, the PSD has struggled at length, recognizing the increase in sexual crimes in Portugal, evidenced by reports such as the Annual Internal Security Report. Despite reserves regarding the preservation of the victim’s autonomy, the party will now support proposals that guarantee reinforced protection to the victims anonymity and right to forget.

Proposals on the table include arrival initiatives, free, left block and pan. The latter proposes the creation of a working group before any legal change. To ensure that the bloc’s proposal is not sponsored in general, Mariana Mortágua suggested that the project download to the specialty without vote. In addition to the proponents, the liberal initiative and JPP have already confirmed the vote in favor.

Until now, Portugal, Italy and San Marino It is the only European countries that do not yet consider violation a public crime, contrary to the recommendations of the Istanbul Convention, ratified by almost 40 countries of the Council of Europe. If the PSD confirms its support, even if the PS votes against, Parliament may ensure that Portugal will no longer be on this list of exceptions.