Probleme beim Bürgergeld, wie zum Beispiel mit der Übernahme der Kosten für Miete oder Heizung, mit der Hilfe zum Lebensunterhalt, dem Wohngeld oder auch mit Leistungen der Krankenkassen oder Schwierigkeiten beim Kindergeld - die Bürgerbeauftragte für soziale Angelegenheiten des Landes Schleswig-Holstein, Samiah El Samadoni, hilft bei allen Fragen rund um das Sozialrecht. Darüber hinaus berät die Bürgerbeauftragte auch als Leiterin der Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Landes und als Ombudsperson in der Kinder- und Jugendhilfe im Rahmen dieser Sprechstunde. Zudem ist die Bürgerbeauftragte auch Beauftragte für die Landespolizei und damit Ansprechpartnerin für Beschwerden von Bürger*innen und Eingaben von Polizist*innen.

“The adoption of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill by the UK Parliament raises major issues about the human rights of asylum seekers and the rule of law more generally”, said Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. “The United Kingdom government should refrain from removing people under the Rwanda policy and reverse the Bill's effective infringement of judicial independence”, he underlined.

“Managing asylum and migration is undoubtedly a complex endeavour for states, but it must always be done in full compliance with international standards. In this regard, I am concerned that the Rwanda Bill enables the implementation of a policy of removing people to Rwanda without any prior assessment of their asylum claims by the UK authorities in the majority of cases. Specifically, the Bill prevents individuals faced with removal to Rwanda from accessing remedies for potential violations of the absolute prohibition of refoulement, while it also significantly excludes the ability of UK courts to fully and independently scrutinise the issues brought before them.

The Bill was proposed by the UK government in conjunction with a new treaty with Rwanda, following the UK Supreme Court’s finding, in November 2023, that persons removed to Rwanda faced a real risk of being sent onwards to their countries of origin, in violation of the principle of non-refoulement. The UK is prohibited from subjecting, even indirectly, people to refoulement, including under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, under the Refugee Convention, and under a range of other international instruments.

While the UK-Rwanda treaty contains certain provisions aimed at the prevention of refoulement, the Supreme Court’s judgment shows the importance of ensuring that people can seek independent judicial scrutiny of the alleged safety of a removal destination. However, the Rwanda Bill prevents individuals from having any meaningful recourse to UK courts in relation to the key question of refoulement, such as by excluding the examination of any claim that Rwanda will not act in accordance with its treaty commitments. The Bill requires decision makers to regard Rwanda as ‘safe’ for removal, regardless of the specific facts on the ground. It explicitly prohibits UK courts from considering the risk of Rwanda sending people onwards to other countries, as well as the fairness and effectiveness of asylum procedures in Rwanda. UK courts also cannot draw upon any interpretation of international law, including the European Convention on Human Rights, whilst large parts of the Human Rights Act 1998, which gives effect to that Convention in UK law, are disapplied. Finally, the Bill gives authority to a Minister of the Crown to decide whether to comply with interim measures issued by the European Court of Human Rights in relation to removal to Rwanda, notwithstanding that such measures are binding and that failure to comply with them undermines the right to individual petition guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Rwanda Bill’s adoption is another representation of an ongoing trend towards externalisation of asylum and migration policy in Europe, which is a matter of concern for the global system of protection of the rights of refugees. This is an issue that will have my early and close attention as Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights.”

When: 23 April 2024 - 24 April 2024

Where: Online, Austria

FRA will hold its regular meeting with its National Liaison Officers (NLOs) from 23 to 24 April online. The NLOs are FRA’s main contact points in Member States and in observer States to the work of FRA.

The meeting will host an exchange of views between NLOs and FRA Director Sirpa Rautio.

Various areas of the Agency’s work will be discussed with FRA experts. These include migration, environmental sustainability, EU Enlargement and the FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report.

In addition, Belgium and Hungary will provide updates on the fundamental rights priorities during their current and upcoming Presidencies of the Council of the EU.

APLAUDIMOS EL RECONOCIMIENTO AL REAL AUTOMÓVIL CLUB CIRCUITO DE GUADALOPE POR SU CONTRIBUCIÓN AL LEGADO Y PRESTIGIO DE ARAGÓN EN EL MUNDO DEL MOTOR

Esta mañana, la Justicia de Aragón, Concepción Gimeno, se ha unido a la sociedad turolense para celebrar, junto a sus representantes y a las máximas autoridades de la Comunidad Autónoma, el Día de Aragón en Teruel. 

La celebración, en los jardines de la Fundación Amantes, ha sido la oportunidad para premiar el trabajo asociativo, constante y dedicado del Real Automóvil Club Circuito de Guadalope, organizador del Premio Ciudad de Alcañiz y desde 1966 activo impulsor del mundo de motor, cuyo legado y prestigio en Aragón ha ayudado a preservar.

Concepción Gimeno se ha sumado al reconocimiento de la sociedad turolense a los premiados con la medalla al Mérito Social del Gobierno de Aragón y, de entre todos sus méritos, ha querido destacar la vocación asociativa de los integrantes del Real Automóvil Club Circuito de Guadalope. “La alianza que han formado los socios y las socias, en base a la pasión por el mundo del motor y el respeto a una tradición que brinca dos siglos y supera el medio centenar de años, es la prueba fiel de que los aragoneses, unidos, somos campeones”.

In a continuing effort to foster civic awareness among students, the Office of the Ombudsman welcomed students and their teachers from St Jeanne Antide College, Immaculate Conception Secondary School. The visit was part of a targeted initiative to deepen students’ understanding of the Ombudsman’s role and the importance of good governance.

The visit included a detailed presentation by the Commissioner for Education, Chief Justice Emeritus Vincent De Gaetano, who delved into the Ombudsman’s role and functions. The Commissioner emphasised the Ombudsman’s role as a mediator between the complainant and public institutions, which is a significant part of the institution’s contribution to ensuring fairness and justice in public administration.

During the session, emphasis was placed on the Rule of Law. Students were informed about their rights and duties, the importance of a transparent and accountable public sector, and the need to uphold democratic values and to insist on efficient governance.

At the end of the session, the Parliamentary Ombudsman, Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon, highlighted the importance of such initiatives, stressing the need to understand the Ombudsman’s role and the overarching benefits of good public administration and the protection of rights.

The students and their teachers were actively engaged throughout the session. They took the opportunity to ask questions and showed an interest in learning more about their civic responsibilities.

This visit is part of a series of educational efforts by the Office of the Ombudsman to prepare Malta’s young people to become informed citizens, equipped to contribute positively to society. Such initiatives underscore the Office of the Ombudsman’s commitment not only to overseeing public administration but also to educating the public about this vital oversight role.