Applications now open for latest Protective Seal edition - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social

The Regional Secretariat for Health and Social Security, through the Azores Commissioner's for Childhood (CAI), announced that applications are now open for the ninth edition of the Protective Seal, which runs from March 15 to May 31, 2026.

Given their closer ties, CAI is once again joining the initiative promoted by the National Commission for the Promotion of the Rights and Protection of Children and Young People (CNPDPCJ), which is an integrated risk and hazard management system focused on self-assessment and capacity-building for Entities with Competence in Matters of Childhood and Youth within the education sector. 

In the eight editions held to date, the Protective Seal has certified 287 organisations, benefiting more than 282,000 children and young people.

There are already four organisations in the Azores distinguished with the Protective Seal: Vitorino Nemésio Secondary School and Manuel de Arriaga Secondary School, recognised in January 2026, which joined the organisations certified in 2023 — Colégio de São Francisco Xavier - Província Portuguesa das Irmãs de São José de Cluny school, on the island of São Miguel, and the Olhar Poente Association, on the island of Terceira.

As such, CAI has been promoting the Protective Seal in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, raising awareness amongst organisations of the importance of joining this national initiative and encouraging them to submit applications.

In the first quarter of 2026, the CAI President visited the four distinguished Azorean organisations with the aim of giving visibility to the work they have carried out, raising awareness of this certification and encouraging other regional organisations to join the initiative.

It should be noted that the Protective Seal is awarded annually, with certification valid for a period of four years, which is non-renewable. Once this period has expired, organisations wishing to retain their accreditation must submit a new application in accordance with the terms set out for each edition.

Regulations and additional information are available at:
https://www.cnpdpcj.gov.pt/selo-protetor.