Fausto AmaroTechnical University of Lisbon

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Portugal (2007): some indicators

• Population : 10.6 million

• Population under 18 years: 18.6% (1 974 894)

• Birth rate: 9.7‰

• Infant Mortality Rate (2006): 3.4• Life expectancy at birth:

– Male: 75.2– Female: 81.6

• Children under institutional care: 0.57%

Crude divorce rate (2006): 2.2‰

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Portugal (2007). Some indicators

Maltreated children:

Physical maltreatment: 0.12%

Psychological maltreatment : 0.17%

Sexual abuse under 14 years: 0.03%

Impact of child wellbeing indicators1986 – Publication of the First National

Survey on Child Abuse and NeglectMain indicators:

Neglect: 29.6 cases per 10,000 familiesPhysical abuse: 19.2 cases per 10,000 familiesPsychological abuse: 13.2 cases per 10,000

familiesSexual abuse. 2.3% of all cases of Child Abuse

Child protection policy in the 90’s1990 – Ratification of the UN Convention on

the Rights of the Child

1991 – First minor protection Commissions

1994 – The Parliament asks for a national study on maltreated children

1999 – Reform of the child protection system

Protection SystemLaw Age

rangeChild’s

SituationMeasure

sProtection Law (147/99)

0-18 At risk Protection measures

In danger

Deviant behaviour

0-12 Delinquency

Educational Guardianship Law (166/99)

12-16 Delinquency

Educational measures

Children under institutional care(2005 /2007

(*) Emergency Units; Temporary Residential Care Centres; Children's Homes; Autonomy-building Apartment

(**) Estimated% - Number of cases/total population under 18 years of age

Year Foster families

Institutions Total

2005 3 977 (**) 11 499 (**) 15 476

% 0.20 0.58 0.782006 2 698 9 540 12 238

% 0.14 0.48 0.62

2007 2 499 (**) 8 863 (**) 11 362

% 0.13 0.45 0.57

The new policy for foster careThe Plan DOM (Challenges, Opportunities

and Changes) – April 2008

This plan aims to improve continuously the quality of children’s and young people’s homes through the promotion of institutionalized children’s rights, their education, citizenship and deinstitutionalization in time.

Relative position of the different types of child abuse (2005)

Special programs for the FamilyPositive parenthood program aims to help

families do develop positive parentingTraining program for more vulnerable

families aims to help families of children at risk.

Social, psychological and monetary support for families with children and young people under legal measures in the family setting.

In search of good indicatorsWhat we need:

Childhood policies based on empirical research

Updating of all indicators on a regular base

Indicators capable of international comparison

In search of good indicators (2)

Indicators related to the cultural contextOperational definitionsAn unique information systemIndicators which can lead to policy making

mainly at local levelIndicators that can be easily understood by

all citizens

Child friendly citiesThe development of local policies aiming the

protection and development of the Rights of the Child:

1.To develop indicators of the several dimensions of the child’s rights

2.To establish objectives3.To evaluate policies and programs according

to the established indicators