Maria Bessa was born in Coimbra, on January 5th, 1968. She has a degree in Law from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon and a post-graduate degree in Political-Administrative Sciences (administrative branch) from the same Faculty. She practiced law and was Sub-Inspector General in the General Inspection of Justice Services. She began working in the Ombudsman’s Office…

Catarina Sampaio Ventura was born in Coimbra in 1971. She graduated in Law from the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra in 1995, where she also completed the taught component of a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Sciences (1998–1999) and a postgraduate degree in Medical Law (2003–2004). She was also a Trainee Assistant at the Faculty, teaching…

João Portugal was born in Leiria on the 27th January, 1965. He holds a degree in Law (Political and Legal Sciences) from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon. He was a trainee assistant professor in Political Science, Constitutional Law and Public International Law. Since 1993, he has been working at the Ombudsman. From 1998 till 2022, he…

Helena Afonso was born in Mozambique in 1967. She holds a degree in Law from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon (1985–1990) and a postgraduate degree in European Studies from the European Institute of the same Faculty. She began her career as a lawyer and subsequently held technical and management positions at various levels within the Public…

Sofia Amaral do Nascimento Rodrigues Câmara holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law and a Master’s degree in Financial Law, as well as a postgraduate qualification in Education for Sustainable Global Peace, under the UNESCO Chair programme. Her professional career includes experience at the Bank of Portugal and the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), as well as serving as Head of the…

Tiago Fidalgo de Freitas holds an LL.M. from New York University School of Law (New York, USA) and the European University Institute (Florence, Italy). He is an Invited Assistant Professor at the University of Lisbon School of Law, where he obtained his law degree, and has been an Assistant Researcher and Executive Coordinator of the Lisbon Public Law Research Centre…

João Lázaro holds a degree in Law and a postgraduate qualification in Victim-Offender Mediation and Restorative Justice. He served as Secretary-General of APAV from 1995 to 2007, as Vice-President and Executive Director from 2007 to 2012, and as Chief Executive Officer from 2012 to 2026, a position he held until his appointment as Deputy Ombudsman. He practised as a lawyer…