Mónica Seidi highlights high implementation rate of Regional Plan for Equality and Non-Discrimination in the Azores - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social

The Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, participated today in the first meeting of the Advisory Forum for the 1st Regional Plan for Equality and Non-Discrimination in the Azores (PRINDA) 2023–2026, which took place at Solar dos Remédios in Angra do Heroísmo.

The Regional Minister highlighted that promoting equality and non-discrimination is one of the missions of the Regional Directorate for the Promotion of Equality and Social Inclusion (DRPIIS), with the first regional plan in this area having been approved by Government Council Resolution No. 232/2023 of December 15.

“PRINDA represents a clear commitment of the Regional Government to building a fairer, more inclusive and discrimination-free society, based on the joint work of public institutions, social partners and civil society organisations,” stated the Regional Secretary.

This plan is structured along five strategic axes: promoting equality between women and men; preventing and combating discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics; preventing and combating various forms of discriminatory violence, such as ageism, bullying or ethnic discrimination; preventing and combating hate speech; and monitoring the implementation of the 1st PRINDA.

In this context, the PRINDA Advisory Forum, established under Order No. 1937/2025 of September 9, plays a key role in monitoring the plan’s implementation, fostering coordination among the various bodies responsible for implementing the measures set out. It is responsible for analysing the annual implementation reports, proposing any adjustments to the defined measures and targets, and contributing to the continuous improvement of regional public policies in this area.

During today’s meeting, data on the PRINDA implementation was presented, showing positive results since its inception. In 2023, all 13 planned measures were implemented. In 2024, 26 of the 42 planned measures were implemented, with the remainder currently being implemented and carried over to subsequent years. As for 2025, 34 of the 49 planned measures were implemented, with the remainder carried over to the following year. By the end of 2025, 70% of the PRINDA measures had been completed, and 30% remain in progress in 2026.

Notable initiatives include regional conferences, awareness-raising campaigns, training programmes for leaders and technical staff, and various initiatives to raise awareness of equality, discrimination, cyberbullying and hate speech.

Since 2023, investment under the PRINDA programme has amounted to about €320,000, reflecting the Regional Government’s commitment to promoting public policies intended to strengthen equality and social inclusion in the Region.

According to the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, this meeting represented “an important opportunity for joint reflection and confirmation of our collective commitment to equality and non-discrimination in the Azores.” She emphasised that the involvement of institutions and civil society is essential to ensuring more inclusive and effective public policies.