1. Fausto Amaro Technical University of Lisbon

2. 2 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‰

3. 3 Portugal (2007). Some indicators Maltreated children: Physical maltreatment: 0.12% Psychological maltreatment : 0.17% Sexual abuse under 14 years: 0.03%

4. Impact of child wellbeing indicators 1986 – Publication of the First National Survey on Child Abuse and Neglect Main indicators: Neglect: 29.6 cases per 10,000 families Physical abuse: 19.2 cases per 10,000 families Psychological abuse: 13.2 cases per 10,000 families Sexual abuse. 2.3% of all cases of Child Abuse

5. Child protection policy in the 90’s 1990 – 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

6. Protection System LawAge rangeChild’s Situation Measures Protection Law (147/99) 0-18At riskProtection measures In danger Deviant behaviour 0-12Delinquency Educational Guardianship Law (166/99) 12-16DelinquencyEducational measures

7. 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 YearFoster familiesInstitutionsTotal 20053 977 (**)11 499 (**)15 476 %0.200.580.78 20062 6989 54012 238 %0.140.480.62 20072 499 (**)8 863 (**)11 362 %0.130.450.57

8. The new policy for foster care The 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.

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

10. Special programs for the Family Positive parenthood program aims to help families do develop positive parenting Training 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.

11. In search of good indicators What we need: Childhood policies based on empirical research Updating of all indicators on a regular base Indicators capable of international comparison

12. In search of good indicators (2) Indicators related to the cultural context Operational definitions An unique information system Indicators which can lead to policy making mainly at local level Indicators that can be easily understood by all citizens

13. Child friendly cities The 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 objectives 3. To evaluate policies and programs according to the established indicators