PortuguêsCitizenship Academy is part of the European consortium of the PARATA – Protecting At-Risk Activists from Threats and Attacks project, funded by the European Union’s CERV – Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme. The project aims to contribute to strengthening the resilience of the European civic space by supporting civil society organisations and human rights defenders who face threats, attacks, and other forms of pressure that jeopardise the exercise of fundamental freedoms. PARATA focuses on analysing and responding to practices that seek to limit the rights to association, assembly, and expression, with particular attention to contexts of repression targeting civic and protest movements. The project places special emphasis on climate activists, defenders of migrants’ rights, and LGBTQIA+ rights advocates—groups that have frequently been subjected to intimidation, criminalisation, and delegitimisation strategies. European Cooperation and Consortium The project is implemented by a consortium of eight European organisations with recognised experience in the defence of fundamental rights and civic space. Coordination is led by Associació NOVACT (Spain), with the participation of the following partner organisations: Together, these organisations work on monitoring civic space, sharing knowledge, and developing joint responses to address threats directed at activists and civil society organisations across different national contexts. Citizenship Academy’s participation in the PARATA project reinforces its commitment to defending civic space in Portugal and across Europe, contributing to the protection of those engaged in civic action and to the safeguarding of fundamental rights. By: Gabriela Benedeti
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It is with deep sorrow and heartfelt sadness that Citizenship Academy bids farewell to Maya (Marcelo Yamada), a long-standing activist and Chair of our Fiscal Council. We mourn the loss of a companion in struggle who brought immense joy, determination, and positive energy to our organization. We share the profound sense that we are all diminished by his passing: his family and friends, to whom we extend our sincerest condolences; and humanity as a whole, which has lost one of its most empathetic members—deeply committed to social justice and actively devoted to the well-being of others. Mayawill remain forever in our hearts and in the history of Citizenship Academy for his unwavering dedication to the fight for rights for all people, never letting go of anyone’s hand. He will be especially remembered for his tireless commitment to promoting the dignity of those who face the greatest discrimination in our society—LGBTI+ […]
Note of Mourning on the Passing of Maya (Marcelo Yamada), Chair of the Fiscal Council of Citizenship Academy
Citizenship Academy received funding under the Catalyst of Change – NHC programme for the development of the project “Why Do We Protest?”, a documentary web series dedicated to the analysis and representation of civic space and climate activism in Portugal. The project emerges in a context of increasing pressure on civic space, marked by attempts to restrict the right to protest, disinformation campaigns, and processes of stigmatisation and criminalisation of activists, particularly in the climate field. These dynamics have contributed to the construction of public narratives that devalue or distort the role of activism as a legitimate expression of democratic participation. Framework and Objectives “Why Do We Protest?” seeks to contribute to a more informed public understanding of protest and civic participation by giving visibility to the motivations, practices, and democratic frameworks of climate activism in Portugal. The project is aligned with the objectives of the Catalyst of Change – […]
“Why Do We Protest?” Project | Catalyst of Change – NHC Funding
Within the scope of the Erasmus+ Programme – Adult Education (Key Action 1: Individual Mobility), Citizenship Academy developed, throughout 2023 and 2024, a European project focused on capacity-building and cooperation, aimed at strengthening its educational practices and developing the skills of its members. This project was integrated into the association’s strategy to promote active citizenship, civic participation, and community empowerment, contributing to the continuous improvement of its adult education programmes. Framework and Objectives The project had the following main objectives: Activities Carried Out Within the framework of the project, participants took part in international training activities held between March and September 2024: These activities contributed to the development of individual and collective competencies, with a direct impact on the training practices and the work carried out by Citizenship Academy. Participants and Selection Criteria The project involved 15 participants, selected through a process aligned with the association’s principles of inclusion, diversity, […]
Erasmus+ Project 2023–2024 | Adult Education — Individual Mobility (KA1)
Academia Cidadã carries out its work in the field of adult education, active citizenship, and community empowerment, promoting inclusive, participatory educational practices oriented towards social impact. In this institutional news section, we share initiatives, recognitions, partnerships, and projects that reflect the ongoing work of Academia Cidadã and its commitment to lifelong learning, cooperation, and community development. Erasmus+ Programme for Adult Education Academia Cidadã has been awarded accreditation under the Erasmus+ KA120 – Adult Education Programme, granted by the National Agency for the Management of the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission. This accreditation recognises the work carried out by Academia Cidadã in the field of adult education and the promotion of active citizenship, as well as its institutional capacity to implement European cooperation projects. Erasmus+ accreditation framework The Erasmus+ accreditation enables Academia Cidadã to plan and implement, on an ongoing basis, international mobility activities aimed at educators, trainers, and other […]
Erasmus+ Programme for Adult Education
Europe is experiencing a dangerous rollback of civic freedoms, in a context where the promise of universal rights and democratic values, enshrined in the EU treaties, is being steadily eroded by interconnected economic, social, cultural, and political factors. The latest Civic Space Report, released by the Civic Space Watch, with the participation of Academia Cidadã, as member of the European Civic Forum, documented an “unprecedented and intensified attack” on civil society and civic freedoms, including restrictions on protest rights, challenges to non-profit funding, and smear campaigns. Charpter on Portugal espite maintaining its classification as having an “Open” civic space in the CIVICUS Monitor, Portugal has seen a progressive decline in the assessment of its civic freedoms. There has been no significant progress in addressing the key issues highlighted in the European Commission’s Rule of Law 2024 report and there were no recommendations on civic space. Excluded groups face worrying challenges in terms […]
Civic Space Report 2025
The main purpose of this Platform is “to defend and promote human rights and to create synergies between organizations actively working in the field of human rights in Portugal, without replacing their actions.” The PDH currently has 23 organizations from different areas of activity, spread across the mainland and islands. The defense of human rights is one of the main concerns of Academia Cidadã, especially at a time when these rights are even more threatened. We believe that this struggle, like all others, can only be fought collectively, with organization and cooperation. We hope to contribute to the development of the Platform and its current and future projects.
Academia Cidadã joined the Human Rights Platform in Portugal
In 2024, Academia Cidadã was mentioned and cited in the following news articles and publications: 2024-01, Buala: Academia Cidadã was cited in articles on combating racism and xenophobia, advocating for a refusal of silence in the face of these issues. 2024-03-08, Esquerda.net: The association signed an open letter opposing attacks on immigrants’ rights. 2024-05-20, Público: Save the Climate Platform calls for demonstration on 1 June in Portugal | European elections | PÚBLICO SmoothFM: Climate protest scheduled for 1 June in Lisbon 2024-05-20, M80: Climate protest scheduled for 1 June in Lisbon 2024-05-20, Radio Comercial: Climate protest scheduled for 1 June in Lisbon 2024-05-20, RTP / Lusa – Save the Climate Platform calls for demonstration to alert MEPs 2024-05-31, Público: Lisbon: climate march on Saturday with European elections on the horizon | European elections 2024 | PÚBLICO 2024-06-01, Observador: Around a hundred people marched in Lisbon for the climate. The demonstration […]
Academia Cidadã Mentions in the Press in 2024
Academia Cidadã issues the following right of reply, to be disseminated by the media outlets that published the aforementioned article (Sol / jornal i): It was with considerable surprise that the Associação Academia Cidadã (AC) found its name, and that of one of its projects – Linha Vermelha – mentioned in the aforementioned article. The opinion piece, masquerading as genuine journalistic work, adopted a sarcastic, accusatory, and conspiratorial tone, which naturally raises suspicions and sows confusion regarding the various informal collectives and associations it cited. Furthermore, the “journalist,” Inês Dória Nóbrega Teotónio Pereira Bourbon Ribeiro, didn’t even bother to contact our association or the project. All she needed to do was visit the Academia Cidadã website, where our contact details are readily available. To claim that Academia Cidadã acts “like an umbrella” for all the collectives mentioned is simply untrue. All the organisations cited in the “news” are entirely independent. […]
Right of Reply to the article “Portuguese Activists and the Capitalist Money that Funds Them”, published on 28 October 2024 ...
Protests banned on grounds of protecting ‘public order’ and ‘security’ The European Civic Forum, Civil Liberties Union for Europe, CIVICUS, European Network Against Racism and Solidar are calling on the European Commission to address at the highest political level the unlawful restrictions on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression imposed by member states since the dramatic escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine last year. A new analysis, published by the European Civic Forum, shows that European governments have repeatedly cracked down on individuals and organisations expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people in marches, demonstrations and cultural activities. Six months on from 7 October, people in Europe have continued to take to the streets to peacefully protest against the violence, to show solidarity with the victims and to call for the respect of human rights and international law. These protests are unfolding amid an increase in hate speech and hate crimes targeting both Jewish […]