Portugal has a consolidated legal and institutional framework for gender equality. The Constitution of the Portuguese Republic enshrines gender equality as a fundamental right, and the Law no. 62/2017 establishes balanced representation between women and men in decision-making bodies.

The key national entities with missions specifically devoted to address gender equality include the CIG – Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality and CITE – Commission for Equality in Labour and Employment.

CIG (https://www.cig.gov.pt/) is a national public policy body for gender equality in Portugal. It operates under the Government (currently within the Ministry of the Presidency). The scope of action of CIG is broad, involving a cross-sectoral action in areas such as education, health, justice, employment, gender-based violence, civic and political participation. This is the entity that is responsible for implementing the National Strategy for Equality and Non-Discrimination (ENIND 2018–2030). It has a core role in developing awareness campaigns, domestic violence prevention programs, and educational projects on equality.

CITE (https://cite.gov.pt/) plays a central role in implementing equality policies across education, employment, and public life. It has a tripartite structure involving representatives of Government, trade unions, and employers’ associations. It acts, and precenting and addressing a specialized and technical body focusing specifically on the world of work and employment. It aims at ensuring equal treatment and opportunities between women and men in the workplace, discrimination at work (e.g., pay gaps, access to positions, dismissals). Among its actions we highlight the provision of recommendations and technical opinions on labor equality and work-life balance.

Overall CITE has a technical and legal role linked to employment and labor law, while the CIG has a strategic and societal role across multiple policy areas.

Other active entities include the Portuguese Platform for Women’s Rights (PpDM) – https://plataformamulheres.org.pt/international/english/ – a social, cultural and humanist non-governmental organisation, independent from political parties, religious institutions or governmental structures, whose members are women’s rights NGOs.

The Portuguese Platform for Women’s Rights represents Portugal in the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) and in the Association of Women from Meridional Europe (AFEM), and it is a member of the Euro-Mediterranean Women’s Foundation (FFEM). The Portuguese Platform for Women’s Rights is a member of the EU Civil Society Platform against trafficking and has Special Consultative Status by the UN ECOSOC.

Key policies include the National Strategy for Equality and Non-Discrimination 2018–2030 (ENIND) and the National Plan for Equality between Women and Men 2022–2026, which provide guidelines for mainstreaming gender perspectives in education, vocational training, and labor market integration.

Key labor market facts:

• Employment rate (15–74 years) (2025): women 62.4%, men 68.7%.
• Unadjusted gender pay gap: ≈8.6% (Eurostat, 2023).
• Higher concentration of women in education, health, and care sectors; men predominate in STEM, construction, and engineering.
• Female graduates in STEM between 20 and 29 years old were at 15,7/1000 inhabitants, while for male the rate is 27,6/1000 inhabitants (Ministry of Education, 2020).
• Youth unemployment rate for the group of 16-14 years old was at 20.9% (female 22,4% and male 20,9%) (INE 2024).

Relevant policies and strategies – Portugal

• The National Strategy for Equality and Non-Discrimination 2018–2030 (ENIND)(https://www.incode2030.gov.pt/) establishes a long-term framework for promoting gender equality, combating discrimination, and preventing gender-based violence. It is implemented through multi-annual action plans.
• Municipal Equality Plansare local-level planning instruments for public policies on equality. They define strategies to address and transform gender asymmetries identified through a local gender diagnosis, integrating gender mainstreaming measures and specific actions, and establishing objectives, indicators, measurable targets, and mechanisms for evaluation.
• Municipal Equality Plans (PMIs)are local-level planning instruments for public policies on equality. They are developed and implemented by municipal governments—often in collaboration with local equality officers, community organizations, and the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG). These plans outline strategies to address and transform gender asymmetries identified through a local gender diagnosis, integrating gender mainstreaming measures and specific actions, and establishing objectives, indicators, measurable targets, and mechanisms for evaluation.
• In the education system, policies encourage gender mainstreaming through coeducation principles in schools and the integration of equality objectives in vocational and higher education. In the university and research sphere, there are equality units in most universities, as well as initiatives led by the Fundaca~o para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT), which require gender equality plans and promote balanced participation in research projects.