Portugal’s Commission for Citizenship and Gender equality (CIG) is expected to have a record budget of €22.93 million in 2027, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Margarida Balseiro Lopes said during a parliamentary hearing on the proposed state budget.
The allocation represents an increase of around 235% compared with the €6.84 million managed by the commission in 2026. According to the minister, much of the rise reflects a structural change in how support services for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking are financed.
For the first time, permanent funding for the National Network to Support Victims of Domestic Violence and the Support and Protection Network for Victims of Human Trafficking will come directly from tax revenues rather than European funds. The 2027 budget includes approximately €11 million for direct contracts with organizations responsible for victim assistance, accommodation and protection services.
The funding is intended to ensure continuity while updating operating costs, including salary increases and shift allowances for professionals working in these services. The change is also designed to reduce organizations’ dependence on temporary funding cycles and provide greater financial predictability.
The budget will also support a free, multilingual national helpline operating around the clock throughout the year. The service will receive approximately €423,000 and will be staffed by specialized professionals.
In addition, three new specialized psychological support services for children and young people who are victims of domestic violence are planned for the Lisbon metropolitan area, with an estimated investment of €265,000. The government says the new services will help provide nationwide coverage for specialized psychological support, building on work launched in 2026.
The minister also highlighted a new programme addressing domestic and gender-based violence, financed through EEA Grants and allocated €14 million. Its measures include preventing violence, protecting victims, integrated management of high- and extreme-risk cases, multidisciplinary support for children, and integrated service models.
The main change planned for 2027 is the transfer of permanent financing for victim-support networks to national tax revenues, with the stated aim of strengthening the stability of the organizations that provide assistance, accommodation and protection.
Sources: Observador.