Francisca Van Dunem was born in Luanda, in 1955.
She was Deputy Attorney General.
She graduated in Law from Faculdade de Direito of Universidade de Lisboa, in July 1977.
She is Magistrate of the Public Prosecutor since September 1979.
She was responsible for Criminal Law and Procedural Criminal Law departments at Faculdade de Direito of Universidade de Lisboa between 1977 and 1979.
She was syndication and survey advisor at Alta Autoridade contra a Corrupção between 1985 and 1987.
She was delegate Public Prosecutor in Labor Court, Criminal Court of Lisbon, and Department of Investigation and Penal Action of Lisbon.
She was member of Attorney General's Office between 1999 and 2001.
She was director of the Department of Investigation and Penal Action of Lisbon between 2001 and 2007.
She was Lisbon’s Deputy Prosecutor General from 2007 to 2015, when she suspended functions to be appointed member of the Portuguese Government as Minister of Justice.
She was member of European Judicial Network concerning criminal matters between 2003 and 2007.
She represented the Superior Council of Public Prosecutor in the Mission Unity for Criminal Reform.
She was member of the Commission that reviewed the Procedural Criminal Law in 2009.
She represented Portugal in several meetings and expertise committees of international organizations, namely the European Committee for Criminal Problems, the Council of Europe, and the European Observatory for Racism of the European Union.
She was member of the Superior Council of Public Prosecutor.
She represented the Superior Council of Public Prosecutor in the Management Council of Judicial Studies Center.