Report: Odair Moniz's death is a sign of insecurity

The death of Odair Moniz during a police operation last year contributed to the growing risk to personal safety in Portugal assessed by the Global Report on the State of Democracy 2025.

Portugal dropped one position in the Rule of Law rankings, falling to 33rd out of 173 countries, behind Lithuania and Israel.

In contrast, Portugal rose to 13th in the Representation table, 37th in the Rights index and 55th in terms of Participation.

The report published this Thursday refers to the death of Odair Moniz, in October 2024, which led to violent protests and riots, and cites the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which expressed "concern about the excessive use of force by the Portuguese police, particularly against people of African descent."

"We've seen declines in what we call personal integrity and security in Portugal. This is essentially related to the way the state uses violence ," said Alexander Hudson, one of the authors of the report produced by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).

Although this indicator improved slightly last year in statistical terms, Hudson told Lusa News Agency that there were declines in the period between 2019 and 2024.

“There was a slight recovery in 2024, but it is still an overall downward trajectory,” he warned.

A PSP agent is due to begin trial in October , accused of the murder with two shots of Odair Moniz in Cova da Moura , Amadora, in October last year.

According to the prosecution, the 43-year-old Cape Verdean resident of the Zambujal neighborhood attempted to flee from the police and resist arrest, but no threat was made using a bladed weapon, contrary to the official statement released by the PSP National Directorate.

The report also points to a deterioration in press freedom and increasing economic inequality in Portugal.

The Global State of Democracy Report is produced annually by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), based in Stockholm, based on information from 22 institutional sources, including the UN.

The study uses a total of 154 indicators to rank 173 countries across four main categories of democratic performance: Representation, Rights, Rule of Law, and Participation.

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