ELGS MA Students in Cascais, Portugal institutional visits

On Wednesday, 22 January 2025, the ELGS students were received by the Deputy-Ombudsperson, Mr. Ravi Afonso Pereira, and the Head for Law and International Relations, Mrs. Sofia Duarte. The Deputy-Ombudsperson provided a comprehensive overview of constitutional guarantees of fundamental rights in Portuguese national law and explained the role of the Ombudsperson as an independent state body in ensuring the justice and the legality of the exercise of public powers. The students had the opportunity to engage in a lively discussion with him on the nature of the complaints that were lodged by citizens, the means and resources to address these complaints and the recommendations put forward by the Ombudsperson to improve national administrations. They were particularly interested in the Ombudsperson’s proactive role in defense of fundamental rights, with specific attention given to children, elders and persons with disabilities’, as well as the rights and dignity of persons incarcerated or in reclusion. Mr. Sofia Duarte then presented the international scope of the Ombudsperson’s work as a National Human Rights Institution accredited by the United Nations since 1999.  The visit offered the students a unique insight and understanding of how the Ombudsperson contributes to the consolidation of the rule of law in Portugal, how its function underscores the principle of the separation of powers, and how it promotes accountability and human rights protection.

Additionally, on Thursday 23 January, the students from the ELGS Master Program in Global Rule of Law and Democracy, implemented for the first time on-site in Portugal, were invited to the Secretariat of the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) for an in-depth discussion on the importance of inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue in policymaking and conflict prevention, with a special focus on the African region. They met with the Head of Regional Programs, the Senior Officer in charge of the Fellowship Program, the Officer in charge of E-learning courses, and the Program Manager for the Africa Region.

On the same day, the students of the MA in “Rule of Law and Democracy”, visited the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Portugal. They were welcomed by the Head of Mission, Mr. Vasco Malta, who delivered an engaging and interactive speech. During his dynamic presentation, he spoke about IOM’s mission, its integration into the UN in 2016, and its role in addressing global migration challenges. He also clarified the basic terms related to migration, explaining the legal distinction between migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.

Mr. Malta encouraged the students to ask questions and share their perspectives on migration governance. The conversation focused on global migration trends and Portugal’s migration landscape, while the Head of the Mission outlined Portugal’s structured refugee admissions, including spontaneous arrivals, EU relocation programs and resettlement schemes. The students participated actively in the discussions regarding the impact of international agreements and the responsibility of host countries. The visit offered the MA students a meaningful practical understanding of the challenges of migration governance and humanitarian response.