The ethnic Portuguese and minority groups are united through the national language Portuguese , culture, and religion Roman Catholicism. Portugal's government promotes ethnic unity and homogeneity by claiming that identifying people based on ethnic backgrounds promotes discrimination.
Portugal is the first unified-state in Western Europe since its population is homogenous. The vast majority of people in Portugal belong to the Portuguese ethnic group.
This lack of ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity is attributed to the country's geographic location. Portugal is isolated from the rest of the western European countries, and requires travel through Spain or by boat. Until the 15th century, few European countries, except Portugal, sailed outside of the Mediterranean region, and therefore other ethnic groups were unable to reach the country.
Despite the country's homogeneity, there are regional differences exhibited in the traditions of each region based on the ancestry of the people. Decriminalization was the most prominent part of a package of reforms designed to take a humane approach to addiction, to treat it as a disease rather than a moral failing. Drug users would be viewed as patients, not as criminals, and they would be met with treatment, rather than incarceration.
The approach worked. Over the last nearly two decades, the number of heroin users in Portugal has been cut by two thirds and drug-related deaths have plummeted from more than one a day in to 30 in all of The fall in new drug-related HIV infections has been even more striking, with 18 recorded in , according to a report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, compared with in The country quickly opened up to the world at a time when drugs from countries like Afghanistan were flooding into Europe.
These quickly made their way into Portugal, its long coastline providing many points of access. By the s, the country was plunged, totally unprepared socially or culturally, into a drug epidemic that was made much worse by the start of the AIDS crisis.
Primarily concerned with stabilizing the young democracy, they neglected the problem, which quickly degenerated into a huge crisis. The tragedy unfurled across all social classes. The shame it carried for many families made it difficult to talk publicly about the issue. There were hundreds of overdoses every year: people died by overdose in Jails were filled with drug addicts. Drug use, at the time, was still subject to jail terms that could reach two years and were often applied in an arbitrary manner, depending on the vagaries of an overloaded and unprepared judicial system.
Although the official response was repression, this did nothing to stem the problem. As it worsened, slowly attitudes started to evolve. The drug crisis, increasingly visible in some poor neighborhoods, spread to city centers. The first center was established in Lisbon in and run by the Ministry of Health. Each center provided local, community support to those addicted to drugs. Anyone could arrive at a participating pharmacy with a used syringe and exchange it for a clean one, no questions asked.
Methadone, which had been prescribed in northern Portugal to treat heroin addiction since , spread to the rest of the country starting in The government asked experts, including doctors, social work professionals and a judge, to come up with a plan for how Portugal should tackle its drug crisis. The plan, presented in , recommended a focus on a humane approach including action to prevent addiction in the first place and treating rather than punishing those addicted, as well as policies to help people reintegrate into society.
It laid the foundations for the law to decriminalize drugs. Set out for the first time as a package of reforms, the plan appeared radical. It was a bold departure from conventional wisdom on how to tackle the drug epidemic, especially for a socially conservative country.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. San Marino. Sao Tome and Principe. Saudi Arabia. Sierra Leone. Sint Maarten. Solomon Islands. South Africa. South Korea. South Sudan. Sri Lanka. The Bahamas. The Gambia. Trinidad and Tobago. Turks and Caicos Islands. United Arab Emirates. United Kingdom. Vatican City Holy See. West Bank. You are about to leave travel. Department of State. Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.
Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel. Cancel GO. Embassy Messages Alerts. Quick Facts. Embassy Lisbon Av. Destination Description. Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements. Portugal is a party to the Schengen Agreement and part of the European Union. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay. If you plan on transiting a Schengen country, review our U.
Travelers in Europe page. You will need sufficient proof of funds and a return plane ticket. Safety and Security. Safeguard your passport and identity documents when traveling throughout Portugal. Foreigners who arrive in Portugal without a valid passport will not be permitted to enter and will be returned to their point of origin. Be aware of your surroundings and take personal security measures to stay safe. Thefts of backpacks, electronics and luggage occur regularly.
Do not leave valuables in rental cars, especially those with stickers identifying the vehicle as a rental car. Avoid using automatic teller machines ATMs in isolated or poorly lit areas. Use the buddy system and indoor bank ATMs when possible. Leave extra cash, credit cards, and personal documents at home or in a hotel safe. Keep doors and windows of private rentals locked at all times, taking extra care if easily accessed from the street or other places. Illicit drug transactions increase at night, and travelers are often approached by drug dealers in the downtown area of Lisbon, especially near the bars and restaurants.
Some travelers have reported incidents in which criminals used drugs to assault or rob them. Use caution when accepting open drinks at bars or clubs, and do not leave drinks unattended. Always use a taxi from the queue or kiosk. Do not go with someone who walks up to you and offers a ride. If you have called a ride sharing service such as Uber, confirm that the car information in the App matches the vehicle you are entering.
Tourists should not leave personal items or valuables unattended while at the beach. Reports of thefts from rental homes and online rental apartments have increased.
Secure belongings and lock windows while away or sleeping. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly become violent. Avoid areas around protests and demonstrations. Check local media for updates and traffic advisories.
Embassy for assistance. For social welfare emergencies such as domestic violence or child abuse, dial the National Social Emergency Line - English-speaking operators are available. Filming and photographing the police or military and certain buildings in Portugal is illegal and could lead to arrest or detention.
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol could land you in jail. Penalties for trafficking illegal drugs are severe. Offenders can expect long jail sentences. Pepper spray is illegal and will be confiscated. Persons carrying it are subject to fines or prison. Possession of unlicensed metal detectors is strictly forbidden, and persons caught with them are subject to fines. Individuals establishing a business or practicing a profession that requires additional permits or licensing should seek information from the competent local authorities prior to practicing or operating a business.
Driving : You can drive with your U. Please note that many highways require a toll for use. Public transportation : Public transportation, in general, has specially reserved seats for individuals with disabilities, but some vehicles may not be equipped to load and secure wheelchairs mechanically. Some train stations are equipped with elevators.
0コメント