Portugal
This country page describes, in brief, data that TJET has compiled on regime transitions, intrastate conflict episodes, and transitional justice mechanisms. For details on the data included on this page, view the FAQ.
For Portugal, TJET has collected information on: five amnesties between 1974 and 1996; 18 domestic trials starting between 1977 and 2020; two reparations policies created between 1977 and 1997; one truth commission mandated in 1977; and two vetting policies starting in 1974.
Select any transitional justice mechanism in the table below to view a timeline in the figure.
Country Background
Democratic Transition
Based on well-known democracy data, TJET records one democratic transition starting in 1974.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Violent Conflict
Based on the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, TJET records no episodes of violent intrastate conflict in Portugal between 1970 and 2020.
Transitional Justice Data
As of 2020, Portugal ranks 137th out of 174 on TJET’s legacy of violence index. For a full list of country rankings over time, view the index page, and for an explanation of the index, view the Methods & FAQs page.
Amnesties
Portugal had five amnesties between 1974 and 1996. Four occurred in the context of democratic transition. One amnesty released political prisoners.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Domestic Trials
TJET has compiled data on 18 domestic prosecutions between 1977 and 2020. These include one transitional human rights prosecution of state agents, in which no one was convicted; and 17 regular human rights prosecutions of state agents, in which ten persons were convicted.
Click on accused records for data on convictions. Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Reparations Policies
Portugal implemented two reparations policies, starting in 1997. According to available information, there was a total of 1329 individual beneficiaries. TJET found evidence on implementation only for one reparations policy.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Truth Commissions
Portugal mandated one truth commission in 1977. The commission completed its operations in 1991. The commission issued a final report, which is publicly available.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Vetting Policies
Portugal had two vetting policies between 1974 and 1976. One policy provided sanctions based on past individual conduct.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
UN Investigations
Mozambique was subject to one UN investigation in 1973. One investigation aimed to encourage domestic prosecutions.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.