🇵🇹 Portuguese Preparation Activities – ECAPT

1. Introduction

As part of the ECAPT—European Citizenship Against Prejudice and Discrimination project, the Portuguese team carried out comprehensive preparation activities focused on discrimination, intolerance, hate speech, and violence in contemporary Portuguese society. Through research, statistical analysis, and personal testimonies, participants explored how discrimination manifests in everyday life and how it affects individuals and communities.

These activities aimed to raise awareness, strengthen critical thinking, and prepare participants to actively contribute to the international ECAPT activities with informed perspectives and real-life insights.

2. Qualitative Research: "It Happens Every Day"

One of the core preparation activities was a qualitative research project titled "It Happens Every Day: 10 Accounts of Discrimination in Portugal", where participants collected and analyzed real personal testimonies related to discrimination.

The research highlights lived experiences connected to:

  • Racism and xenophobia

  • Discrimination based on nationality and ethnicity

  • Gender and sexual orientation

  • Socioeconomic exclusion

These testimonies clearly show that discrimination in Portugal is not an abstract concept, but a daily reality for many people, often normalized or ignored. The collected stories were also transformed into a video interview format, amplifying the voices of those affected and making the issue more accessible to young audiences

3. Theoretical & Legal Research on Discrimination in Portugal

The Portuguese team also conducted an in-depth desk research study titled "Building Inclusive Societies: A Study on Discrimination, Intolerance, and Violence", focusing on the national context.

DOWNLOAD ECAPT...ch-0.pdf

This research explored:

  • Forms of discrimination (direct, indirect, harassment, hate crimes)

  • Impact on individuals and society, including mental health and social cohesion

  • Portuguese legal framework, including Article 240 of the Penal Code and anti-discrimination laws

  • Gaps in legislation and enforcement, highlighted by national and European institutions

The study reveals a worrying increase in discrimination and hate-related incidents in Portugal, combined with low reporting rates, lack of trust in authorities, and insufficient institutional responses.

4. Quantitative Research & Statistical Analysis

To complement the qualitative findings, participants developed a statistical evaluation of discrimination, visually presented through an infographic poster titled "Discrimination Through Our Eyes".

Key findings include:

  • 1 in 6 people worldwide has experienced discrimination

  • Racial discrimination is among the most common forms globally

  • In Portugal, Roma communities reported extremely high discrimination rates (63%)

  • Only 8.8% of victims report discrimination to authorities, mainly due to lack of trust and belief that nothing will change

  • Discrimination is strongly linked to economic status, nationality, age, ethnicity, and gender

These statistics helped participants better understand discrimination not only as a personal issue, but also as a systemic and structural problem.

5. Awareness-Raising & Youth Engagement

Through posters, visual materials, and discussions, the Portuguese preparation activities encouraged young people to:

  • Reflect on discrimination in their own communities

  • Understand the connection between hate speech, violence, and exclusion

  • Recognize the importance of education, reporting mechanisms, and civic action

The activities emphasized the role of youth as active citizens, capable of challenging stereotypes and promoting inclusion at local and European levels.

6. Contribution to ECAPT

The Portuguese team's preparation activities provided:

  • Strong research-based input for the ECAPT project

  • Real-life testimonies that humanize discrimination

  • Clear links between local realities and European challenges

  • Valuable educational and visual materials for dissemination

These outcomes significantly strengthen the collective ECAPT efforts to combat discrimination and promote equality, empathy, and active European citizenship.