Formal, non-formal and informal learning

1. Formal Education

In Portugal, global issues are framed in the curriculum unit of Citizenship and Development, included in the curriculum of all school grades of compulsory education. This curricular unit falls within the scope of the National Strategy for Citizenship Education.

Framed in the objectives outlined in the Education System Basic Law and in the "Profile of the Students Exiting Compulsory Education", the Citizenship and Development curriculum intends to ensure adequate preparation for active and informed citizenship, as well as training for compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals under the 2030 Agenda.

In secondary education, it has become a curricular unit developed transversely with contributions from all classes and training units. It includes a wide range of themes, for which the Ministry of Education has developed a set of guidelines for schools (OECD).

Education for Security, Defence, and Peace

Education for Security, Defence, and Peace is one of the thematic areas of education for citizenship that promotes knowledge and reflection on responsible citizen participation. It is the result of a collaborative protocol between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of National Defence. The main objective is to promote the dissemination of values and matters regarding security and defence in basic and secondary education. This protocol resulted in the joint preparation of an Education Benchmark for Security, Defence, and Peace for basic and secondary education.

The protocol also provides for the design, execution, and promotion of training activities for teachers within the framework of continuous training to incorporate a culture of security, defence, and peace in schools' Educational Project (Eurydice).

Human Rights Education

Human rights education aims to promote the debate on the development of civic awareness regarding human rights. It is based on the principles outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations General Assembly and the Council of Europe Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights.

Development Education

Development education aims to raise awareness and understanding of the causes of development problems and inequalities, both locally and globally. It promotes the right and duty of all people and populations to participate in and contribute to full and sustainable development (Camões – Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua I.P.).

Environmental Education for Sustainability

Environmental education for sustainability aims to promote values that impact attitudes and behaviours regarding the environment. The Directorate General for Education provides a set of online reference documents to support students and teachers (OECD).

Intercultural Education

Intercultural education promotes the recognition and valorisation of diversity, and respect for the multiculturality of current societies and for cultural and religious diversity. The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) now oversees these initiatives.

Gender Equality Education

Gender equality education aims to promote equal opportunities and educate for the values of pluralism and gender equality (CIG – Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality).

2. Non-Formal and Informal Education

Training Initiative "Security, Defence, and Peace"

The Institute of National Defence promotes training initiatives on security, defence, and peace within the framework of Education for Citizenship. The first training initiative took place in 2016 and was named "Security, Defence, and Peace: A Project from All to All". By 2021, this training initiative was in its 17^th edition. It aims to raise awareness for the integration of issues related to security and defence in educational practice, using the Education Benchmark for Security, Defence, and Peace, developed in partnership with the Directorate General for Education and the Institute of National Defence. This training is aimed at teachers of different education cycles, from preschool to secondary education (Eurydice).

“We Are All Needed” Project

The "We Are All Needed" European project is coordinated by the Danish Institute for Human Rights and funded by the European Commission. It produces materials for teachers and students to contribute to education against sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination. In Portugal, the materials were developed by ILGA Portugal, in collaboration with the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality and the Directorate General for Education (ILGA Portugal).

We Propose! Project Citizenship and Innovation in Environmental Education

The "We Propose! Project Citizenship and Innovation in Environmental Education" aims to promote effective local, territorial citizenship from a governance and sustainability perspective. It is a broad national project within the Geography subject, mobilising schools in Mainland Portugal and the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira. The project is also implemented in Brazil and Spain by several universities, constituting an important Ibero-American project. It is promoted by the IGOT – Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território da Universidade de Lisboa (Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning of the University of Lisbon), supported by the Ministry of Education and socio-professional organisations of Geography.

Young People in Politics – Participating for a Global Citizenship

Under the "Young People in Politics – Participating for a Global Citizenship" project, several initiatives have been developed:

• Young People in Politics: Information and Training for Sustainable Development: This free training activity targets activists of youth parties, aiming to raise awareness and empower young activists on Development Education themes, enabling them to develop actions in their Youth Parties (AIDGLOBAL).
• ACT GLOBAL – Education for Global Citizenship: This initiative is a Facebook page that serves as a community for informational and educational content about Education for Global Citizenship. It targets young people, youth parties, and the general community, providing content on Human Rights, Gender Equality, Sustainable Development, Globalisation and Interdependency, Global Citizenship, Sustainable Consumption, Volunteering, Migration, and Refugees (ACT GLOBAL).

Human Rights Friendly Schools

The "Human Rights Friendly Schools" project was born under the World Programme for Human Rights Education, launched by the United Nations in December 2004. It is coordinated by Amnesty International in Portugal, with institutional support from the Directorate General for Education. The project aims to empower young people and promote active participation of all members of the educational community in integrating human rights values and principles. It is based on 10 global principles derived from international human rights norms and standards (Amnesty International).

 Mundar Platform

The Mundar Platform came up under the Idea Competition for Young People – Mundar: Change your World! It is promoted by the "Choices Programme", in partnership with the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and Torke+CC. It aims to encourage young people aged 16 to 30 to present ideas, create projects, and organise actions that promote their empowerment and autonomy (Programa Escolhas, Gulbenkian, Torke+CC).

Interculturality

The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) promotes initiatives linked to Interculturality, Diversity, and Migrations, including:

• Intercultural School Stamp: A digital stamp that distinguishes schools developing projects promoting the recognition and valorisation of diversity as an opportunity and a source of learning for all.
• Training Initiatives: "Intercultural Education for Young People" (4 hours) and "Intercultural Education in School" (6 hours).
• Schools Intercultural Kit: Provides materials on the interculturality theme.
• Not Just Numbers Project: An educational toolkit about migration and asylum in the European Union, available in 24 Member States, in 20 languages.

Young People's Rights

European Day Against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children

A day (18 November) promoted by the Ministry of Justice to raise awareness against the exploitation and harassment of children and young people (Ministry of Justice).

Project Lead – Inform to Prevent

A European project aimed at developing and spreading information about street violence, violence between peers, and other forms of violence against children and young people. The project provides resources on its website covering topics such as dating violence, bullying, online violence, sexual violence, safety at school, and safety in leisure places (Project Lead).

National Strategy for Equality and Non-Discrimination (2018-2030) "Portugal + Equal"

The National Strategy for Equality and Non-Discrimination translates into three plans, evaluated throughout their implementation to verify if the proposed objectives are being met or if additional measures are needed. The three pillars are:

1. Action Plan for Gender Equality: The Action Plan for Gender Equality aims to promote equal rights and opportunities for women and men across all areas of society. It includes measures to address structural gender inequalities, combat gender stereotypes, and reduce disparities in education, employment, decision‑making, and access to digital skills. The plan also targets specific vulnerable groups, such as Roma girls and older women, and promotes gender mainstreaming, work–life balance, and equal participation in public and private life. 

2. Plan to Combat Violence against Women and Domestic Violence: This plan focuses on preventing and combating all forms of violence against women and domestic violence. It includes measures to protect and support victims, improve access to specialised services, strengthen prevention through education and awareness‑raising, enhance professional training, and ensure effective coordination between public authorities, civil society organisations, and justice and health systems.

3. Action Plan to Combat Discrimination on the Grounds of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics
   The third pillar aims to prevent and eliminate discrimination against LGBTI+ people by promoting equality, inclusion, and respect for diversity. It includes actions in areas such as education, employment, health, and public services, as well as awareness‑raising initiatives, training of professionals, and measures to combat hate speech and violence, ensuring equal rights and opportunities for all.

Youth-targeted information campaigns on global issues

No Hate Speech Movement – Young People for Human Rights online

The No Hate Speech Movement campaign (NHSM) was launched in 2013 and prolonged in May 2015 until the end of 2017 by the Committee of Ministers, as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan on the fight against violent extremism and radicalisation leading to terrorism, with four main objectives:

• To support human rights education activities for action against hate speech and the risks it poses to democracy and the well-being of young people;
• To develop and disseminate tools and mechanisms for reporting hate speech, especially online, including at national level;
• To mobilise national and European partners to prevent and counter hate speech, and online and offline intolerance;
• To promote media literacy and digital citizenship, and support youth participation in Internet governance.

The European coordination of the campaign by the Council of Europe formally ended in December 2017. However, action on hate speech continues through Council of Europe’s action plans and programmes of the Youth Department and the newly established Anti-Discrimination Department. Most of the national campaigns and partner organisations are continuing despite the end of the centrally coordinated support. So being, the campaign continues to successfully mobilise a variety of actors, and youth organisations and partners remain committed to acting for human rights on and offline. Recent initiatives include the kNOwHATE project, which launched the campaign #CortarOMalPelaRaiz to tackle online hate speech in Portugal.

(Refer to chapter 3 - Social Inclusion 3. Key initiatives to safeguard democracy against and prevent radicalisation which lead to violent extremism).

Information providers

There is a wide range of public and private entities that promote the dissemination of information about global issues among Portuguese youth:

• The Ministry of Education, through the Directorate General for Education, within the scope of projects in partnership with other public institutions and/or Non-Governmental Organisations.
• The  Directorate General for Education, under the Citizenship and Development class, provides on its website a wide range of documents and information on several themes regarding the Sustainable Development Goals framed in the 2030 Agenda.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Camões - Institute for Cooperation and Language, is a funder of a diversity of projects in the field of development education.
• The Ministry of the Environment, through the Portuguese Environment Agency, and the Energy Services Regulatory Authority, promotes information projects on environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.
• The Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth also provides information online on its website, and physically in the Ponto Já Stores about a wide range of initiatives.
• "Science in School" Award, Ilídio Pinho Foundation "Science in School" Award, Ilídio Pinho Foundation.

Key initiatives

V National Plan to Prevent and Combat Human Trafficking (2022-2026)

Within the framework of the V National Plan to Prevent and Combat Human Trafficking (2022-2026), several awareness-raising and prevention campaigns have been developed against human trafficking. Recent discussions and evaluations of Portugal's progress in combating human trafficking were held in 2024, focusing on victims' access to legal aid and compensation, and the application of the non-punishment provision.

Come On, Get Off the Couch!

The “Come On, Get Off the Couch!” initiative is developed under the Youth in Politics - Participating for a Global Citizenship project, which is coordinated by AIDGLOBAL. It is a campaign that aims to promote youth vote in local elections.

Young People's Rights

Within the scope of the Lead - Inform to Prevent project, several advertising campaigns have been developed on street violence, peer violence, and other forms of violence for children and young people:

• After Saying No, stop; No More Violence; Stay Tuned;

• No Hate Speech Movement;

• Everything will be Better™ Project.

Recent initiatives include the European Youth Conference, held in Braga at the Braga Youth Centre, Portugal, in February 2025, in a joint organisation involving the Youth Department of the Council of Europe, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, the Braga City Council and the co-operation of the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth, which aimed to strengthen youth participation in decision-making at local and regional levels.

Additional Initiatives

10th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations

This forum took place at the Estoril Congress Centre in Cascais from 25 to 27 November 2024, under the theme "United in Peace: Restoring Trust, Reshaping the Future, Reflecting on Two Decades of Dialogue for Humanity". The event brought together around 1,400 delegates, including religious, cultural, and civil society leaders, as well as representatives of international organisations and academic institutions. The forum highlighted the importance of intercultural dialogue and building bridges for global peace (source: Portal Diplomático).

"Be Seen and Heard" Campaign

This global campaign, launched in collaboration with UN Youth Envoy Jayathma Wickramanayake and the cosmetics brand The Body Shop, aims to encourage young people to enter politics. The campaign seeks to increase youth participation in public life and create structural changes in decision-making processes to make them more inclusive (source: UNRIC).

(Cross-reference with Chapter 3 - Social Inclusion - 4.5 Initiatives Promoting Social Inclusion and Raising Awareness- 2. Young people's rights)