Jeudi, 4 décembre 2025 a eu lieu à la Chambre des Députés du Luxembourg le débat d’orientation sur le rapport d’activités de l’Ombudsman de l’année 2024.

Le député Meris Sehovic (déi gréng) était rapporteur du débat d’orientation qui est mené sur base du rapport dans lequel l’Ombudsman établit le bilan de son activité et qui est transmis chaque année à la Chambre.

Les doléances évoquées dans le rapport 2024 ont été analysées par les différentes commissions parlementaires compétentes, qui par la suite ont élaboré une prise de position.

Les points principaux du rapport de 2024 étaient :

- la demande d’introduction d’un droit à l’erreur,

- le respect des lignes de bonne conduite administrative,

- le nombre croissant de désistements des réclamants et

- le bilan de l’Ombudsman sortante Claudia Monti (2017-2025).

Via une résolution, les députés de la Chambre ont décidé d’organiser dès à présent, après les échanges menés au sein des différentes commissions compétentes et avant que la Commission des Pétitions n’approuve son projet de rapport, une réunion “toutes commissions” à laquelle l’Ombudsman et son équipe seront invités, afin de permettre un dernier échange transversal sur les constats, observations et recommandations du rapport annuel.

Le rapport annuel est disponible ici : https://www.ombudsman.lu/uploads/RA/RA2024.pdf

Summary of the decision: A pregnant inmate missed several appointments at an antenatal clinic. On one occasion, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service’s documentation was so inadequate that it was impossible to determine the reason for this. On another occasion, the agency appears to have completely overlooked the appointment. On one particular night, the inmate called the control room and informed the duty officer that she was bleeding heavily and leaking amniotic fluid. The duty officer decided that she could wait until healthcare staff were on site, which was not until several hours later. There is no documentation of the information the duty officer received about the situation nor which factors they took into account when considering the inmate’s need for medical assistance. When she was later transported to hospital, it was confirmed that an emergency Caesarean section was necessary. In an earlier decision, she had been notified that her mother-in-law would be permitted to attend the birth; however, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service made no effort to contact the mother-in-law when it became apparent that an emergency Caesarean section was to be performed.

In his decision, the Parliamentary Ombudsman underlines the importance of thorough and clear documentation and finds the lack of documentation in this case remarkable. The prison is criticised for this shortcoming. The Parliamentary Ombudsman notes the seriousness of the agency missing a booked appointment at the antenatal clinic, an oversight for which the agency is also criticised.

Moreover, the Parliamentary Ombudsman states that, as a point of departure, a pregnant inmate should clearly be able to feel safe and secure while waiting to give birth, and have the support of a loved-one whenever possible. The Parliamentary Ombudsman is therefore critical of the agency for not making any effort to contact the mother-in-law.

Published December 12, 2025

Malta was among 27 Council of Europe Member States to sign a joint declaration delivered during the Ministerial Conference on “Migration and the European Convention on Human Rights” held in Strasbourg on 10 December 2025.

The declaration reaffirms the signatories’ strong belief in the European Convention on Human Rights as a cornerstone of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe. It also calls for an open and constructive discussion on how to ensure that the Convention framework remains effective in addressing complex challenges linked to migration and national security.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman of Malta, whose Office is an associate member of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), welcomed ENNHRI’s public statement ahead of the conference. In the statement, ENNHRI called on all Council of Europe Ministers to uphold the rule of law, respect the Convention, and safeguard the independence of the European Court of Human Rights. It warned against weakening core human rights protections, particularly in the context of migration.

The joint declaration delivered by 27 governments highlights the evolving challenges linked to irregular migration, instrumentalisation of asylum, and the expulsion of individuals convicted of serious crimes. It calls for greater clarity in the interpretation of provisions under the Convention, including Article 3 (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment) and Article 8 (right to private and family life). The signatories emphasised the need to strike the right balance between individual rights and broader public interests.

They also reiterated key principles for interpreting the Convention, including subsidiarity, proportionality, shared responsibility, and the States’ right to control their borders in line with international law. The declaration welcomed the proposal by the Council of Europe Secretary General to adopt a political declaration on migration and the Convention at the next Ministerial Meeting in May 2026.

ENNHRI will continue to follow these developments closely, including the follow-up process at the Council of Europe Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH), where it participates as an observer.

Guillermo Fatás Cabeza, profesor emérito de Unizar, ha sido el ponente de un evento que se celebra conjuntamente desde 2002 con la Facultad de Derecho

El Justicia de Aragón y la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de Zaragoza han celebrado el 47 aniversario de la Constitución Española con sus tradicionales Jornadas Constitucionales. En su XXII edición, el evento ha contado con Guillermo Fatás Cabeza como ponente. La justicia de Aragón, Concepción Gimeno, y el decano de la Facultad, Antonio José García, han sido los encargados de inaugurar el acto.

El profesor emérito de la Universidad de Zaragoza, que tituló su ponencia «La ley procesal con que Aragón se anticipó a CE art.15», ha descrito durante su intervención la organización del reino y el pasaje histórico que condujo a la decisión de Jaime II de prohibir el tormento judicial en Aragón.

La justicia de Aragón ha reconocido que fue Guillermo Fatás quien, con su profundo amor a Aragón, animó a la institución a estudiar y difundir este paso que dio Aragón hace siete siglos: «Es un honor y un privilegio compartir este momento por usted y que quede en la memoria colectiva».

„Obwohl in Österreich die menschenrechtlichen Standards schon sehr hoch sind, gibt es natürlich auch bei uns eine Notwendigkeit, ihre Einhaltung regelmäßig zu kontrollieren, denn wer aufhört, besser sein zu wollen, hat aufgehört, gut zu sein“, äußert sich der derzeitige Vorsitzende der Volksanwaltschaft Christoph Luisser zum Tag der Menschenrechte.

Dazu ist die Volksanwaltschaft als „Haus der Menschenrechte“ da. Mit ihren Kommissionen überwacht und fördert sie die Einhaltung der Menschenrechte in Österreich und berichtet dem Parlament und den Landtagen jährlich darüber. „Die im Bericht zur Präventiven Menschenrechtskontrolle enthaltene Liste an Vorschlägen der Volksanwaltschaft zur Verbesserung der Menschenrechtssituation in Österreich ist lang und wird laufend ergänzt“, so Volksanwalt Luisser.