Academia Cidadã

CIVICUS discusses Portugal’s presidential runoff election and the rise of the far-right Chega (Enough) party with Jonni Lopes, Executive Director of Academia Cidadã (Citizen Academy) and a Steering Committee member of the European Civic Forum, an organisation working on civic engagement, democratic participation and the protection of civic space at national, regional and international levels. On 8 February, Portugal held the second presidential runoff in its democratic history, and the first to feature a far-right candidate. Backed by a cross-party coalition spanning centre-left to centre-right, Socialist Party candidate António José Seguro defeated Chega leader André Ventura. The result was a significant rebuff to Ventura, but in just a few years Chega has changed from being a fringe movement into parliament’s second largest party, and continues to influence Portugal’s political landscape. Why did centre-right voters back a Socialist candidate? Despite not agreeing with his politics, centre-right voters backed a Socialist candidate […]

“The far right’s electoral legitimacy can eventually become governmental power”

Citizenship 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

Citizenship Academy in a European Consortium for the Protection of At-Risk Activists from Threats and Attacks (PARATA)

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, […]