Portugal

Better response to parental alienation needed

Portugal is a small European country but has deep ties to large countries such as Brazil or its former African colonies. Many Portuguese nationals were born in Africa and have returned to Portugal after the colonies’ independence in the mid-1970s. There are also many Portuguese people living in other European countries, such as France and Germany.

The fact that Portuguese people have ties to so many countries is relevant information regarding children’s abduction. Portuguese parents must know the legal status of governments regarding the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction.

Call For Action

Portugal needs to acknowledge parental alienation as a problem. Similar judicial systems, such as the Brazilian, have laws regarding this problem. Portugal should set a clear message regarding parental alienation, determining the consequences and the responsibility. Children need protection in high-conflict divorces, and when one of the parents alienates the child from the other parent.

The 116 000 hotline is not well known by parents. There needs to be a public campaign to raise awareness. Parents need to understand the importance of reaching out as soon as possible. National organizations operate this network of missing children hotlines in 32 countries in Europe, providing families and children free and immediate emotional, psychological, social, legal, and administrative support 24 / 7.

Family Law

Portuguese legal system favors joint custody when a couple divorces. Exceptionally, when the child faces any risk, such as domestic violence or child abuse, the court can determine that one parent has legal custody.

The alternate residency has been gaining popularity in Portugal. In this system, parents have joint custody of their children, but residence is shared. The child lives part-time at each parent’s home. The court will determine how long the child will stay at each home and consider if the housing conditions are similar.

Even though parental alienation is a reality, the Portuguese legal system has still not implemented clear legislation to address this matter. Individually, courts have decided on parental alienation cases, but the legal system does not have laws to deal with this rising problem.

Parental Abduction

In Portugal, parental abduction is considered the act of a child being taken to a place different from his habitual residence by one parent against the other parent’s will. As part of the European Union, Portugal has open borders with Spain, and from there, one can reach any country in the EU. As Portugal has many nationals working in other countries in the European Union and historic ties to Brazil, most international abductions happen to Brazil and the EU.

In Portugal, parental abduction is criminalized in its criminal code. Article 249 determines that removing a child and disregarding the legal agreement on parental responsibilities is a crime. This can lead to two years of jail time and a financial penalty of 240 days of basic wages. The law also criminalizes the act of making parental contact difficult and may lead to a court decision regarding the terms of legal custody and parental responsibility.

Portugal is part of the Hague Convention of the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. This treaty binds countries to commit to working together to resolve matters of children taken or held unlawfully in another country. The left-behind parent can request the Portuguese government support the return of the abducted child. Portuguese children taken unlawfully to another treaty member country, such as the USA, might also be subject to a return request.

The PortugueseCentral Authority (PCA) for the Hague Abduction Convention is the Directorate-General of Social Reintegration (Direção-Geral de Reinserção e Serviços Prisionais).

Parental Alienation

Portuguese law does not explicitly address parental alienation, as do other Portuguese-speaking countries such as Brazil. Even though parental alienation is a problem in Portugal, legislation on this matter is not specific. That does not, however, mean that a parent who suffers from alienation from their son or daughter cannot ask for intervention from the courts.

When one of the parents indicates that parental alienation is happening, the judge might ask for a court evaluation. A court-appointed specialist meets the involved parties and produces a report. The report must cover the psychological and social aspects of the situation. At this moment, especially if abuse is present, the court-appointed specialist might speak to the minor.

Still Portugal must do more to protect children from parental alienation. When signs of parental alienation show up, the family courts must quickly evaluate the situation and provide the victim – especially the child – with psychological support.

Prevention

Some measures can help protect your child from parental abduction, especially in high conflict divorces:

The parent should ask the court to include a clause in the custody agreement that both parents must provide written authorization to travel abroad with the child.
If you are still married and your parental responsibilities have not been revoked, remember that custody of the child belongs by law to both parents. So do not accept anyone telling you that parental abduction is not a crime and that you cannot do anything.
Provide a copy of the court decision that defines parental responsibilities to the school, nannies, family members, and neighbors with whom the child usually stays.
Ask the Embassy or Consulate of the other parent’s country of nationality to give you information on whether they are parties to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Abduction Minors and whether there are preventive measures in place to prevent parental abduction.
If the child already has a valid passport, and there is a fear of abduction, the parent can ask the court to apprehend the p The renewal of the passport should only happen if both parents sign a written authorization.
If the child does not have a passport, inform the Border and Foreigner Service (SEF) in writing that they should not issue a passport for this child.
If the child has another citizenship, inform the local embassy in written form that they should not issue a valid passport without both parent’s permission.
Have a detailed description of your child ready, photos, a copy of all his or her documents, medical files, etc.
Inform national police if the other parent reveals the intention of abducting the child.
Prepare all the other parent’s information, including documents, affiliation, family ties, and relations in foreign countries.

Missing Child

What to do if your child is missing?

Contact the police immediately and file a complaint. Ask the national police to include your child’s name in the database of missing children.
Reach out to SOS Missing Children in Portugal hotline 116000. The European Commission has adopted 116000 as the single EU hotline for missing children.
Contact international airlines and inform them of the child’s status and that the police are already aware.
If you know to what country your child was abducted, immediately contact the General Office of Social Reinsertion (DGRSP) to initiate the Hague Convention procedures.
Contact the Public Attorneys Office and ask for their assistance.
Contact Portuguese diplomatic officials (or from your home country, if you are not Portuguese) in the country your child might be taken to, and ask for their assistance.
Research the status of the Hague Convention on Child Abduction in the country your child might be.
Have all your child’s documentation and photos ready for eventual dissemination by entities looking for missing children. The Portuguese Association for Missing Children and SOS Criança Missing will assist in this diffusion.

Thanks

Thanks to Leonardo Futuro for the contribution in producing this country page.

Portugal

Better response to parental alienation needed

Share THIS:

Table of Contents

Background