Indicator history

According to the Government the law constitutes "an important step against exclusion." It will ease the integration of second and third generation foreign citizens born in Portugal and reduce cases of lack of equal treatment on the grounds of nationality which in many cases coincide with discrimination against ethnic minorities.

Portuguese nationality can be acquired notably, by third generation immigrants, if they have a parent born in Portugal and by second generation immigrants if the parent has his or her legal residence in and has been settled in Portugal for at least five years. Immigrants' associations consider that this law will simply benefit the third generation by leaving out most of the immigrants born in Portugal. Some NGO’s have criticised this law as the acquisition of Portuguese nationality still depends on the progenitor’s legal residence in the country. This new nationality law is considered as a step to reducing discrimination based on nationality. This law is applicable to all pending cases before administrative authorities and courts, except those where sanctions for discrimination can be imposed. As foreseen in law, these sanctions cannot be retroactive.
 

Source

Malheiros, M. and Rosado, A. (2006), "European Anti-discrimination Law Review", N. 4 - 2006 European Network of Legal Experts in the Non-discrimination Field, http://www.non-discrimination.net/content/media/LR-4-PT-2.pdf, Date of access: 17.02.2012.

Malheiros, M. and Rosado, A. (2010), Report on Measures to Combat Discrimination: Directives 2000/43/EC and 2000/78/EC - Country Report 2009 - Portugal, European Network of Legal Experts in the Non-discrimination Field, http://www.non-discrimination.net/content/media/2009-PT-Country%20Report%20LN_final.pdf, Date of access: 17.02.2012.