The Greek Ombudsman denounced the suspension of access to asylum following increased mixed flows to Crete

Date of article: 15/07/2025

Daily News of: 17/07/2025

Country:  Greece

Author: Greek Ombudsman

Article language: en

The Greek Ombudsman, Andreas Pottakis, expressed his strong reaction denouncing the three-month suspension of access to asylum for newcomers from North Africa, as it is in direct violation of international and EU law, undermining fundamental principles of the rule of law.

In his letter of 10.07.2025 to the President of the Hellenic Parliament and the Government the Ombudsman welcomed the recent announcement of a first reception centre on Crete, viewing it as a positive step toward ensuring dignified treatment of newly arrived migrants. He emphasized that a permanent facility is far preferable to the prolonged use of temporary spaces like the exhibition centre in Chania or other makeshift locations currently being used across the island. The absence of official structures, he warned, can contribute to xenophobia and even racist violence.

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El Defensor pide información al Ministerio de Trabajo sobre inspecciones para evitar muertes de trabajadores por temperaturas extremas

Date of article: 14/07/2025

Daily News of: 17/07/2025

Country:  Spain

Author: National Ombudsman of Spain

Article language: es

El Defensor del Pueblo ha iniciado una actuación de oficio por la que solicita al Ministerio de Trabajo y Economía Social información sobre las inspecciones  que realiza para evitar que se produzcan muertes de trabajadores por estar expuestos a temperatura extremas.

La institución Defensor del Pueblo ha tomado esta decisión tras tener conocimiento, por los medios de comunicación, de varias muertes de trabajadores en los últimos días en distintos puntos de la geografía nacional, a causa, presuntamente, de la exposición a temperaturas extremas durante su jornada laboral.

El Defensor del Pueblo recuerda que el Real Decreto 486/1997, de 14 de abril,  establece las condiciones mínimas de seguridad y salud de los trabajadores y que señala, entre otras cosas, “la obligación de adoptar medidas adecuadas para la protección de las personas que desarrollan trabajos al aire libre frente a cualquier riesgo relacionado con fenómenos meteorológicos adversos, incluyendo temperaturas extremas”.

La institución sugiere al Ministerio de Trabajo, ahora que se inicia uno de los veranos  que se prevén más calurosos de los últimos años -junio de 2025 ha sido el más cálido desde 1961, año desde el que la Agencia Española de Meteorología tiene registro- , que recuerde a empleadores (públicos y privados) la obligación de proteger la salud e integridad de los trabajadores ante episodios de temperaturas extremas.

La actuación de oficio también reclama información sobre la aplicación del Real Decreto mencionado y sobre cómo se aborda la previsión de este tipo de riesgos en el Plan  Estival 2025.

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Difensori civici italiani protagonisti del dialogo sui diritti e sulla ricostruzione democratica dell’Ucraina.

Date of article: 10/07/2025

Daily News of: 11/07/2025

Country:  Italy

Author: National Coordination of Ombudsmen of Italy

Article language: it

Doppio appuntamento a Roma per il Coordinamento Nazionale dei Difensori Civici: Senato della Repubblica e Ukraine Recovery Conference: 9 luglio 2025. 

Una giornata intensa, ricca di contenuti e visioni condivise sul futuro dei diritti, della legalità e della ricostruzione democratica. I Difensori civici italiani sono stati protagonisti di due rilevanti appuntamenti istituzionali a Roma, che hanno visto la partecipazione di rappresentanti italiani, ucraini ed europei.

Nel pomeriggio si è tenuto presso il Senato della Repubblica – Palazzo Cenci – l’incontro “Difesa civica e diritti fondamentali: un ponte tra cittadini e democrazia”, promosso dalla Senatrice Cinzia Pellegrino, componente della Commissione Diritti Umani. Un confronto ad alto livello che ha messo al centro il ruolo della difesa civica nel garantire giustizia e protezione, soprattutto in contesti di crisi ed emergenza.

Durante il suo intervento, Marino Fardelli, Difensore civico della Regione Lazio e Presidente del Coordinamento Nazionale dei Difensori Civici, ha dichiarato:

“La difesa civica è il ponte tra le persone e le istituzioni, soprattutto quando i diritti rischiano di essere messi in secondo piano.”

Tre parole chiave hanno ispirato l’incontro:

  1. Ricostruzione democratica, con particolare attenzione all’Ucraina e alla resilienza delle sue istituzioni;
  2. Protezione delle persone vulnerabili, in particolare minori, donne, anziani e sfollati;
  3. Emergenze e diritti, con la ferma convinzione che anche nei momenti più critici i diritti debbano essere tutelati e non sospesi.

Il Presidente Fardelli ha inoltre rivolto un sentito ringraziamento alla Senatrice Pellegrino per la sensibilità istituzionale e l’impegno dimostrato, sottolineando il valore di una politica che ascolta, protegge e costruisce.

Nella stessa mattinata, sempre a Roma presso il Centro Congressi Via Cavour,, si è svolta la tavola rotonda “I guardiani dell’equità”, promossa dal Business Ombudsman Council dell’Ucraina, nell’ambito della Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025).

Al dibattito hanno preso parte:

  • Marino Fardelli, Presidente del Coordinamento Nazionale dei Difensori Civici;
  • Guido Giusti, Difensore civico dell’Emilia-Romagna e Vicepresidente del Coordinamento;
  • Marco Enrico, Difensore civico della Sardegna;
    insieme a:
  • Roman Waschuk, Business Ombudsman d’Ucraina;
  • Tetiana Korotka, Deputy Business Ombudsman dell’Ucraina;
  • Nicolas Pinaud, Deputy Director dell’OSCE Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs.
  • Zoran Pasalic, Ombudsman della Serbia
  • Sinisa Bjekovic,  Ombudsman del Montenegro

Nel suo intervento, Fardelli ha ribadito:

“Non può esserci vera ricostruzione senza giustizia e trasparenza. L’Italia è pronta a sostenere l’Ucraina con l’esperienza e la forza dei suoi presìdi democratici.”

Roman Waschuk ha sottolineato:

“La gente viene da noi per chiedere che vengano rispettate le regole. È nostro compito assicurarci che le regole siano la guida della ricostruzione.”

Guido Giusti ha evidenziato l’importanza della cooperazione tra ombudsman a livello europeo per rafforzare fiducia e legalità, mentre Marco Enrico ha rimarcato il ruolo attivo delle Regioni italiane, sempre più vicine ai bisogni concreti dei cittadini, anche in un’ottica di scambio internazionale e cooperazione interistituzionale.

Due eventi, una missione comune: costruire ponti di dialogo, trasparenza e fiducia tra istituzioni e cittadini, in Italia, in Europa e accanto all’Ucraina, nel suo percorso verso una piena ricostruzione democratica e una solida integrazione europea.

Il Difensore civico “ponte” e garante nella ricostruzione

 

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IOI Ombudsman News 27/2025

Date of article: 11/07/2025

Daily News of: 11/07/2025

Country:  WORLD

Author: International Ombudsman Institute

Article language: en


 

AORC Webinar of 15 July 2025

AORC | Reminder: AORC Webinar on Strengthening Implementation takes place on 15 July 2025

Join the African Ombudsman Research Centre, the research and training arm of the African Ombudsman and Mediators' Association, for their insightful webinar on Strengthening Implementation – Ensuring Effective Execution of the Ombudsman’s Recommendations. This event, organised in partnership with the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), will take place on Tuesday, 15 July 2025, at 10 am (GMT+2). Kindly click here for the final invitation and additional information on the speakers.



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Aristides Javier Lasarte presta juramento

ARGENTINA | Aristides Lasarte se convirtió en el sexto Defensor del Pueblo de la Provincia de Santa Fe

El jueves, el 3 de julio de 2025, ante la Asamblea Legislativa prestó juramento, Aristides Javier Lasarte, como el sexto Defensor del Pueblo de la provincia de Santa Fe concluyendo así el proceso que se iniciara algo más de un mes antes cuando su nombre y el de sus dos adjuntos -Estanislao Parreño y Erika Gonnet- fueron por decreto gubernamental expuestos a escrutinio público de toda la sociedad y pasado el periodo de ley sin mediar impugnaciones de peso sus pliegos fueran remitidos al debate legislativo que les terminaría prestando acuerdo con mayoría requerida.



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Informe anual de la PPN ahora disponible

ARGENTINA | Informe Anual 2024 de la PPN: los derechos humanos en contexto de encierro

El procurador penitenciario adjunto, Ariel Cejas Meliare, ratificado en 2024 a cargo de la Procuración Penitenciaria de la Nación, presentó ante la Comisión Bicameral Permanente de la Defensoría del Pueblo y el Congreso el Informe Anual sobre derechos humanos en cárceles federales, en cumplimiento del artículo 25 de la Ley 25.875. El documento destaca que más de 2.500 personas se encuentran alojadas en condiciones precarias en las comisarías de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. También revela un mayor registro de casos de malos tratos y muertes bajo custodia con respecto al año anterior, lo que evidencia la persistencia de la crisis estructural del sistema.



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ALBANIA | Celebrating 25 Years of the Albanian Ombudsman

On 24 June 2025, the Albanian Ombudsman marked a significant milestone: 25 years of its establishment. The official anniversary ceremony gathered distinguished representatives from national and international ombudsman institutions, human rights organizations, and civil society, all united by a shared commitment to the protection and promotion of fundamental human rights and freedoms.



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INDONESIA | Improving the Indonesian Ombudsman’s Contribution in Implementing and Achieving the SDGs

The Ombudsman’s work in enhancing public service delivery across all levels of government significantly impacts the advancement of Goal 16 of the SDGs. With the SDGs target period concluding in 2030 and progress still lagging, the Ombudsman’s contributions should be continuously promoted. Therefore, the institution issued a concise book presenting a collection of nine articles that document the institution’s efforts in supporting SDG Goal 16 and other related goals. The content reflects oversight results on public services spanning ministries, agencies, and local governments, demonstrating increasing compliance with service standards achieved over nearly ten years.



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España | La síndica propone a los ayuntamientos que los refugios climáticos abran también los fines de semana y en agosto

El Síndic de Greuges ha constatado que, durante los fines de semana y agosto, los refugios climáticos no quedan suficientemente garantizados. Ante esto, la síndica insiste en que es imprescindible que estén abiertos siempre que haya riesgo por ola de calor, independientemente de cuándo se produzca. Además, también pide a los ayuntamientos que refuercen los canales de difusión de la información con los ciudadanos.



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AUSTRALIA | NSW Ombudsman places agencies on notice about any attempts to block complaints to integrity bodies

A special report by the NSW Ombudsman has recommended that Government agencies be formally reminded that they are not to block individuals from making a report or complaint to NSW integrity bodies.



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Annual report summary available in English and French

SPAIN | Summary of the Ararteko’s 2024 Annual Report now available in English

The Ararteko has prepared a summary of its 2024 Annual Report in English and French to share the main lines of its content at the international level. The purpose of making this report available internationally is to inform peer institutions about the most important aspects of the institution's work and, in doing so, pave the way for future exchanges of concerns and best practices among Ombuds institutions that share the common goal of advancing citizens' rights.



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España | El Defensor del Pueblo solicita información al Ministerio de Transporte sobre la interrupción de la circulación ferroviaria entre Madrid y Sevilla

La institución Defensor del Pueblo se ha dirigido al Ministerio de Transporte y Movilidad Sostenible, a través de una actuación de oficio, para conocer el alcance de lo sucedido el pasado 30 de junio en la línea ferroviaria que une Madrid con Sevilla en el tramo Yeles-La Sagra (Toledo).



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The Ombudsman Institution supported the request for socially acceptable student fees

Date of article: 07/07/2025

Daily News of: 11/07/2025

Country:  Bulgaria

Author: National Ombudsman of Bulgaria

Article language: en

The Ombudsman Institution appealed to the Minister of Education, Krasimir Valchev, urging him to change the methodology for determining student tuition fees to ensure that they are socially acceptable and predictable throughout the years of study.

July 2025 

The Ombudsman Institution appealed to the Minister of Education, Krasimir Valchev, urging him to change the methodology for determining student tuition fees to ensure that they are socially acceptable and predictable throughout the years of study.

The letter to the minister was prompted by dozens of complaints from students expressing their outrage at yet another drastic increase in student tution fees. They point to extremely high tuition fees for a number of majors, both for fee-paying and state-funded students.

“We understand that in connection with the increase in subsidies for students, there is also an element of administrative pressure to raise fees, but in reality they are too high and, according to citizens, even unaffordable for many families,” writes Dr. Aysun Avdjiev, Secretary General of the Ombudsman Institution.

 He warns that it is unacceptable for young people to tolerate such practices on the part of higher education institutions. Students say that this increase puts them in an impossible situation – “to discontinue their studies, despite the time and effort they have invested, or to be forced to pay an exorbitant fee that does not meet the standards for affordable education.” They note that “the fact that the changes are taking place in the middle of the academic year, without sufficient prior notice or opportunity to prepare, is particularly disturbing.”

“I would like to point out that the national Ombudsman Institution finds the increase unacceptable, as it has a deterrent effect on access to higher education for a significant group of young people. This drastic increase also carries the risk of a mass outflow of students from majors that are said to have insufficient candidates, such as physics, chemistry, philosophy, medicine, etc.,” emphasizes Dr. Aysun Avdjev.

He adds that, according to university rectors, the tuition fees currently in place should be reduced by at least half so that young people's access to higher education is not restricted.

“Regarding the measures taken so far to reduce tuition fees by 25%, it is considered that this reduction is not sufficient,” Avdjiev emphasises.

The Secretary General also draws attention to another worrying fact, namely that the increase in tution fees in recent years has outpaced the incomes of a large proportion of citizens and reduced students' chances of completing their education.

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Link to the Ombudsman Daily News archives from 2002 to 20 October 2011