Lisbon Unveils Ambitious New Plans for Gender Equality and LGBTI+ Rights Amidst Rising Concerns

Lisbon's New Municipal Plans for Equality

The Lisbon Municipal Assembly has approved new municipal plans aimed at promoting gender equality, supporting LGBTI+ rights, and combating violence against women. These plans are set to be implemented until 2026.

During the presentation, Sofia Athayde, the councilor for Human and Social Rights, noted that while the plans incorporate significant innovations, they also maintain continuity with previous versions. The plans were developed through a collaborative process involving various members and entities with diverse perspectives, resulting in a project that is both enriched and balanced.

Key Plans Approved

The approved plans include:

• II Municipal Plan for Gender Equality
• II Municipal LGBTI+ Plan
• III Municipal Plan for Prevention and Combat of Violence Against Women, Domestic and Gender Violence

These plans were thoroughly vetted through mandatory phases prior to the vote, including public consultation and final voting in the council chamber.

Voting Outcomes

The II Municipal Plan for Gender Equality received votes against from PPM, with abstentions from BE, Livre, PEV, PS, IL, and Chega. The II Municipal LGBTI+ Plan also faced opposition from PPM and Chega, with similar abstentions. The III Plan for Prevention and Combat of Violence was approved without opposing votes but saw abstentions from several parties.

Recommendations and Criticisms

The assembly also approved recommendations to establish a timeline for implementing each measure and to specify associated costs. However, opposition parties criticized the plans for their lack of ambition and the absence of updated diagnostics, particularly regarding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. They expressed concerns over the previous plans' low execution rates and delays in presenting the new proposals.

Legislative Proposals

A motion proposed by CDS-PP urging the government to consider increasing penalties for domestic violence was also approved, despite opposition votes from BE and abstentions from others. Additional points included revising the response model to domestic violence cases so that aggressors are mandated to leave homes instead of victims.

Strategic Objectives

The II Municipal Plan for Gender Equality aims to continue the previous plan's focus on education, employment, and civic engagement, with a reported execution rate of 55% as of 2022. It outlines four priority intervention areas and sets nine strategic objectives to enhance gender equality in Lisbon.

The II Municipal LGBTI+ Plan seeks to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, building upon the first plan's 71% execution rate across various intervention areas, including health and education.

The III Municipal Plan for Violence Prevention aims to ensure that every victim receives an appropriate response through a coordinated intervention network, with long-term goals to eliminate all forms of violence against women in Lisbon.