Non-discrimination
25. The Committee welcomes the numerous measures, programmes and plans of action initiated by the State party to address discrimination in the context of children and families living in poverty, and groups in disadvantaged situations, notably the National Strategy for the Integration of the Roma Communities for the period 2013-2020, and other measures to combat discrimination, including support centres for immigrants and the establishment of Education for Citizenship Guidelines to sensitize school staff and other educational stakeholders in order to facilitate the integration of children of immigrants and ethnic minorities in schools. The Committee is concerned, however, that despite considerable action taken by the State party, immigrants, foreigners and ethnic and racial minorities, including the Roma minority and people of African descent, continue in practice to face discrimination in access to housing, employment, education, equal wages, health care and public services. The Committee is also concerned about reported cases of discriminatory conduct and ill-treatment of, and manifestations of racist stereotyping and prejudice towards, immigrants, foreigners and ethnic and racial minorities by law enforcement officials, as well as discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adolescents.
26. In the light of article 2 of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party ensure that all children in the State party enjoy equal rights under the Convention without discrimination and, to that end:
(a) Intensify efforts to ensure the effective elimination of any form of discrimination against children of immigrants, foreigners and ethnic and racial minorities, including the Roma minority and people of African descent, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adolescents through, among other things, awareness-raising campaigns and intercultural dialogue, especially at the community level and in schools;
(b) Strengthen training for law enforcement officials to ensure that they fully respect and protect the fundamental rights of all persons, without discrimination on the basis of race, colour or ethnic or national origin, and ensure that law enforcement officials are held accountable for misconduct and sanctioned, as appropriate.
Link to full text of the report: Concluding Observations-CRC-Portugal-2014-eng
