Domestic violence is a public crime: anyone can report it, and criminal proceedings can be initiated regardless of the victim’s wishes. In 2024, 25,919 incidents of domestic violence against a spouse or equivalent partner were recorded — making it the most reported crime in Portugal that year, at an average of more than 70 reports per day.
This crime encompasses not only physical violence, but also emotional, sexual, financial and social violence, stalking, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate content. It can occur between spouses or former spouses, between people in or who have had a romantic relationship, between people with children in common, and between ascendants and descendants.
The role of a lawyer is to accompany the victim through every stage of the proceedings — from filing a complaint to trial — informing them of their rights and helping them exercise those rights. Since 2023, the law has been updated in ways that make a real difference for those living this reality.
A More Rigorous Risk Assessment
Since 1 July 2025, security forces and victim support services have been using a new risk assessment tool with four levels — low, medium, high and extreme — and specific indicators by type of crime, including intimate partner violence, child-to-parent violence, and violence against elderly people or children.
Following the assessment, a personal safety plan is drawn up together with the victim. A high or extreme risk level may trigger the immediate application of more restrictive coercive measures against the perpetrator, such as a no-contact order or removal from the residence. A lawyer can accompany the victim throughout this process and ensure that these measures are effectively enforced.
New Economic Support for Victims
Financial dependency is one of the main barriers to leaving an abusive relationship. The law now guarantees victims holding domestic violence victim status access to unemployment benefits, even if it was the victim who terminated the employment contract — a situation which would not normally entitle them to this benefit.
Victim status may be granted by the police or the Public Prosecutor’s Office, regardless of whether a formal complaint has been filed. A lawyer can help obtain this status and ensure access to all benefits provided by law, including legal aid and other social benefits.
A National Strategy for Crime Victims
The National Strategy for the Rights of Crime Victims 2024–2028 has been approved, setting out the Portuguese State’s priorities in supporting victims for the coming years. The document reinforces coordination between health services, security forces, the justice system and social support structures, with particular emphasis on domestic violence situations.
Domestic Violence and the Workplace
In January 2024, Portugal ratified the International Labour Organization Convention on the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work. This is the first international treaty to recognise that domestic violence has a direct impact on the workplace and that employers have active responsibilities in protecting their workers. This ratification strengthens the rights of victims whose employment is affected by the abusive situation.
Image-Based Sexual Violence
This form of violence, which is frequent following the end of abusive relationships, has recently been the subject of new specific legislative measures to combat its practice and dissemination. The topic has been analysed in detail by Dr. Rita Duarte in an article available on our website, which we refer you to here.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, or have questions about your rights, you do not need to face this journey alone. Our team accompanies victims through every stage of the process — from filing a complaint to trial and claiming compensation. Contact us.
Priscilla Frederighi | [email protected]
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