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BRINGING INTEGRITY TO LIFE IN PORTUGUESE: SIGNAL’S JOURNEY TO PORTUGAL |
Lisbon, Portugal, 29 June 2026 — Every journey begins with a purpose. For Signal, one of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's (UNODC) Zorbs, friendly characters designed to help children learn about integrity, honesty and responsibility, that purpose was clear: to inspire more young people to embrace these values in their daily lives. As UNODC's Ambassador of Peace, Justice and the Rule of Law, Signal set off for Portugal following an invitation from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) and from the Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations (Vienna), His Excellency Jorge Manuel da Silva Lopes. With a plane ticket in hand and a mission to promote positive values, Signal was ready for a new adventure.
Signal’s visit to Lisbon marked an important step in making integrity education accessible to Portuguese-speaking communities. This milestone was celebrated with the launch of key educational resources on integrity and anti-corruption in Portuguese foreducators, parents, children and young people.
The launch event was organized jointly by the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) and UNODC. Opening the event, Her Excellency Maria de Fátima Monteiro Jardim, Executive Secretary of CPLP emphasized that “By making these educational resources accessible across all levels of education, the GRACE Initiative ensures that children, young people, teachers, researchers and academic institutions throughout the Portuguese-speaking world have tools to promote ethics, integrity and citizenship.”
Held at the CPLP Headquarters in Lisbon, the event brought together representatives from across the Lusophone community, creating a platform for exchange among governments, educators, practitioners, and youth advocates from around the world.
The event also featured a series of panel discussions that explored how integrity education can equip children and young people with the values and skills needed to become active and responsible citizens.
In the latest children's story Signal’s Sweet Mission to Lisbon, Signal sets off on an exciting journey to Portugal. Along the way, he discovers that small everyday choices - telling the truth, playing fairly, standing up for what is right and helping others - are the building blocks of integrity.
While Signal’s adventure is full of friendship, discovery and fun, it also carries an important message: integrity starts with each of us and can be learned from an early age.
The launch of the Portuguese-language resources brings this message to life beyond the storybook pages, providing practical tools that help children and young people understand and apply integrity values in their daily lives.
Acknowledging the importance of a whole of society approach to prevent and fight corruption, the President of the Portuguese National Anti-Corruption Mechanism (MENAC), Mr. José Mouraz Lopes, reassured MENAC’s commitment:
“For MENAC, education is a cornerstone of integrity and anti-corruption. Making these resources available in Portuguese strengthens our shared capacity to promote ethics, transparency and integrity from an early age across families, schools and communities throughout the Portuguese-speaking world and across Portuguese-language educational settings around the globe. Count on us!”
The availability of these resources in Portuguese marks an important step towards ensuring that more learners across the CPLP community can engage with integrity education in a language they understand and use every day.
Designed with a learner-centred and interactive approach at its core, the materials encourage critical thinking, ethical decision-making and active participation. Through stories, discussions and practical activities, they help young people explore how their choices can contribute to more transparent, fair and inclusive communities.
Signal’s journey reminds us that everyone can make a difference. Whether in a classroom, at home or in the wider community, integrity is strengthened when young people are empowered to reflect, speak up and act responsibly.
The new Portuguese resources provide educators and youth with practical tools to translate values into action, fostering a culture of honesty, accountability and respect throughout the Portuguese-speaking world. By making integrity and anti-corruption education more accessible, the initiative contributes to the implementation of resolution 11/6, recently adopted by the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which recognizes education on ethical values, integrity and anti-corruption for children and young people as a key pillar of corruption prevention and of building trust in public institutions.
As Signal concludes his visit to Portugal, his message continues to travel. Thanks to the collaboration between CPLP and UNODC, more children, educators and communities across continents can join the journey towards a future where integrity is not only taught but lived.
The launch of these Portuguese-language resources helps turn international commitments into practical action by equipping educators, civil society and young people with accessible learning tools that promote integrity, responsibility and active citizenship.
In doing so, it also supports the implementation of Article 13 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which calls for raising public awareness and promoting the active participation of society in the prevention of and fight against corruption through public education and outreach. Together, these efforts help nurture a new generation committed to integrity and strengthening trust in public institutions.
After all, as Signal learned on his trip to Lisbon, even the smallest actions can help build a better world - one honest choice at a time.
