On 21 May 2026, the President of the Court, Mattias Guyomar, accompanied by the judge elected in respect of Portugal, Ana Maria Guerra Martins, and the Deputy Registrar, Abel Campos, visited Lisbon to participate in a conference marking the 50th anniversary of Portugal’s signature of the European Convention on Human Rights. During the visit, President Guyomar also met with the President of the Portuguese Republic, António José Seguro.

During his address at the conference Portugal and the European Convention on Human Rights (1976–2026) – From Accession to Influence, organised by Portugal’s Constitutional Court, Supreme Court of Justice, Attorney General’s Office and Bar Association, the President of the Court spoke about the interplay between the Portuguese constitutional order and the Convention system; the dialogue between judges and courts as a living expression of the principle of subsidiarity in the service of the protection of rights; judicial solidarity as a tool for mutual assistance and for safeguarding judicial independence; the weakening of the rule of law and the challenge to judicial authority; and the shared responsibility of defending the rule of law and ensuring the proper functioning of the judiciary in Europe.

The judge elected in respect of Portugal, Ana Maria Guerra Martins, also addressed the participants on the topic The national perspective at the European Court of Human Rights.

The President concluded his visit by giving interviews to Público and to SIC.

• Speech by President Mattias Guyomar (in French only)