Children's Rights

Child Protection Policy of the CNPDPCJ 

The National Commission for the Promotion of the Rights and Protection of Children and Young People has a child protection policy.

The purpose of this Child and Young People Protection Policy is to define the guiding principles and procedures of the internal policy for the protection of children and young people that relate to the organizational structure of the National Commission, within the context of its activities. 

You may consult the document here. 

Convention on the Rights of the Child

On 20 November 1989, the United Nations unanimously adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), a document that sets out a broad set of fundamental rights – civil and political rights, as well as economic, social and cultural rights – of all children, as well as the respective provisions for their implementation.

The Convention also includes 3 optional protocols:

- Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflicts

- Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography

- Optional Protocol on the establishment of a communications procedure

Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2016-2021)

The Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child, adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 2 March 2016, establishes the Council of Europe’s priority areas in this field for the period between 2016 and 2021. 

Lanzarote Convention

Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, signed by the member States of the Council of Europe, including Portugal, in Lanzarote on 25 October 2007 and approved by Resolution of the Assembly of the Republic No. 75/2012.

Child and Young People Protection Act (LPCJP)

Approved by Law No. 147/99 of 1 September (as amended by Law No. 31/2003 of 22 August, Law No. 142/2015 of 8 September, Law No. 23/2017 of 23 May and Law No. 26/2018 of 5 July), the LPCJP aims to promote the rights and protection of children and young people at risk, in order to ensure their well-being and full development.

Educational Guardianship Law

Approved by Law No. 166/99 of 14 September, as amended by Law No. 4/2015 of 15 January, the Educational Guardianship Law sets out the legal provisions for the application of an educational guardianship measure in cases where a minor aged between 12 and 16 commits an act classified by law as a crime.

Declaration of the Rights of the Child

Proclaimed by United Nations General Assembly Resolution No. 1386 (XIV) of 20 November 1959.

The Rights of the Child: The United Nations, the Convention and the Committee