Elza Maria Henriques Deus Pais (born 22 November 1958) is an academic specialising in sociology, who is a member of the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal and a former Secretary of State for Equality.
Elza Maria Henriques Deus Pais was born in Mangualde in Central Portugal on 22 November 1958.
Portugal has had a very successful programme of addressing addiction, based on decriminalisation of drug use[1] In 2007, Pais was the Portuguese national coordinator for the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All.
She was the Coordinator of the Assembly's Working Group on Medically Assisted Procreation[2][3] Pais also writes articles for the Portuguese media, including Público.
[4] In 2007 Pais received the Arco-Íris (Rainbow) Award from Intervenção Lésbica, Gay, Bissexual, Trans e Intersexo (ILGA) for her fight against homophobia and for the recognition of LGBTI rights.