Almancil will host the first “Women, Justice and Social Equality” Forum on Saturday (April 18), marking a new initiative aimed at strengthening dialogue on gender equality and social justice in the Algarve.
The event, to be held in Portuguese, will take place at the Blackbox – Pavilhão Multiusos 25 de Abril and is organised by the Doina Algarve Association and the Portuguese Platform for Women’s Rights (PpDM), with support from the Almancil parish council and EAPN Portugal – the Portuguese branch of the European Anti-Poverty Network.
Bringing together institutional representatives, policymakers, specialists and civil society organisations, the forum aims to establish itself as an annual reference event for structured debate on equality between women and men in the region.
Organisers highlight that the initiative comes at a time when there is a lack of dedicated national and European funding for gender equality projects in the Algarve, creating additional challenges for local associations working in this field.
Despite these constraints, the region has recently stood out at a national level, with five municipalities – including Castro Marim, São Brás de Alportel, Silves, Tavira and Vila do Bispo – now led by female mayors, representing around 31% of local councils in the Algarve, above the national average of 15%.
The forum will run throughout the day, combining analysis, debate and interactive participation.
The morning session will focus on the current state of women’s rights and equality, both regionally and nationally, through a roundtable discussion addressing socio-economic conditions, institutional responses, the role of the justice system and inequalities across different stages of life. The issue of cyber sexual violence — a growing concern — will also be discussed.
Participants will also have the opportunity to take part in open debates and interactive activities.
In the afternoon, the focus shifts to lived experiences and practical responses on the ground, covering topics such as intimate partner violence, poverty, political participation, education and sport. The session will include testimonies and collaborative discussion spaces.
Participation in the forum is free, subject to prior registration.
The full programme can be consulted online.
