By 
15-11-2025
Julia Crubellate
Europe Team,
Global Human Rights Defence.
With around 360 thousand Brazilians living in Portugal, the complaints against xenophobic attacks against Brazilians grew 142 percent in the last years. Between 2022 and 2024 alone, there was a rise of 30 percent of complaints.
From verbal aggression and racist offenses from strangers on the street, the xenophobic attacks also happen in the workplace, where there is a devaluation of the work produced by Brazilians, who are often viewed as occupying a place that should be filled by a Portuguese and, therefore, was “stolen”.
Furthermore, Brazilians face difficulties and obstacles in finding accommodations, as agencies and homeowners often request disproportionate measures before allowing them to rent an apartment or a house, which is not requested by the Portuguese for the same service.
The General Consulate of Brazil in Lisbon announced at the beginning of November a campaign against xenophobia in Portugal before the end of 2025. The permanent campaign will be led by the Consulate with support of the Embassy of Brazil in Portugal and the Diplomatic Mission of Brazil with the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa – CPLP).
After a request from the Brazilian President Lula who was worried about the rise in hate crimes against Brazilians in Portugal, the topic of hate crime was included on the agenda of the Subcommittee on Consular and Legal Affairs of Brazil and Portugal. The President called to attention that it is necessary that all instances of power in the Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary need to unite against this situation.
The campaign is based on data collected by the Consulate and the Embassy that have received several complaints from Brazilians that live in the European country. Unjustified delays when delivering or renewing the residency authorisation, restrictions faced by Brazilian professors that have been prevented from teaching in the country, and difficulties in renewing the diploma and professional titles show that Portuguese administration disrespects human rights.
The case of the Brazilian teacher Gianna Ribeiro illustrates the situation. She was prevented from continuing teaching after two years of practicing the profession in a public school and having passed a public examination. Despite having her diploma recognised by Portugal, she was expelled from the school and lost her job without any warning.
Last Monday on November 10, a nine-year-old schoolboy, from Brazil, lost his fingertips after he was bullied by Portuguese colleagues inside the school. His peers closed the door on his fingertips when he went to the bathroom, which led to serious injuries. When questioned by the boy’s mother, the teacher alleged that he was playing with the other children when it happened, hiding the fact that it was a result of him being bullied. The mother stated that this is not the first time the boy was assaulted at the school. When she tried to file a complaint at the police station, she heard from the officers that it was an accident and that she should stick with that version.
Portugal is failing at protecting immigrants, especially Brazilians, from hate crimes and xenophobic attacks. The rise in right-wing ideas inflamed by extreme political parties is also an incentive to these types of aggressions and segregation. It is urgent that the government act to contain and take control of the situation, protecting the safety of those most vulnerable.
