Medalha de reconhecimento

The Medal of Recognition (Medalha de Reconhecimento) is awarded to military personnel who, during a campaign or in circumstances directly related to one, as well as on other service missions in national territory or abroad, particularly as part of humanitarian and peace missions, have been deprived of their liberty. It is awarded by the Minister of National Defence.

This, the last Portuguese military medal to be created, was established on 27 December 2002 in response to requests from many military personnel, particularly those who fought in India in 1961 and were subsequently held as prisoners of war by the Indian Union, somewhat forgotten by the Portuguese Government, which refused to comply with the Indian conditions—including the stipulation that only civilian ships or aircraft could collect the Portuguese military personnel. Many prisoners left captivity at their own expense or with financial assistance from the populations of Goa, Daman and Diu.