The book ‘40 Years Driving Fairness in the Delivery of Public Services’ celebrates 40 years of the Office of the Ombudsman. It highlights significant cases and events in the history of the Ombudsman.

The book will be available to download for free on our website from 29th August.

Ombudsman Ger Deering was on the Oliver Callan Show on RTÉ Radio 1 on Tuesday 12th August discussing the book.

You can listen to it here - Oliver Callan Show on RTÉ Radio 1

La institución del Ararteko, conmovida por la terrible situación que están viviendo las niñas y niños en Gaza, que constituye una violación grave y sostenida de sus derechos más elementales, se suma a la declaración institucional de la Red Europea de Defensorías de Infancia (ENOC), de la que forma parte, y hace un llamamiento a proteger todos los derechos de la infancia. 

El Ararteko, como integrante de la ENOC, comparte los términos expuestos en su declaración institucional e insta a los gobiernos nacionales, a la Unión Europea, a las Naciones Unidas y a los organismos internacionales competentes, para que adopten medidas inmediatas, coordinadas y contundentes para promover un alto el fuego en la región y  hacer cumplir sin ambages el Derecho internacional, en aras de proteger la vida, la integridad y todos los derechos de las niñas, niños y adolescentes de Gaza.

La situación dramática y continua en Gaza, una crisis humanitaria sin precedentes, la respuesta insuficiente de la comunidad internacional y la falta de protección a los más vulnerables, cuestionan seriamente la vigencia de los derechos humanos como valor universal fundamental. El sufrimiento infligido a la infancia constituye una violación directa de sus derechos fundamentales, tal y como están garantizados en el Derecho internacional, en particular por la Convención de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos del Niño, ratificada por casi todos los países del mundo. 

Por todo ello, el Ararteko se suma con esta declaración a la exigencia de una respuesta internacional urgente y contundente, que ponga fin a esta grave catástrofe humanitaria.

DECLARACIÓN DE LA RED EUROPEA DE DEFENSORÍAS DE LA INFANCIA

Climate change is a global challenge, including where human rights are concerned. Basic human interests and needs are affected or threatened by climate change. 

A clear and welcoming direction was given by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in its 260 page landmark judgement of the 9 April 2024 in re “Verein Klimaseniorinnen Schweiz and others v. Switzerland “.

Claimants included an association of senior citizens for climate protection.  They argued that the Swiss government`s insufficient action on climate change had violated their human rights as protected by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, in particular Art 2 (Right to life) Art 6 (Right to a fair trial) and Art 8 (Right to respect for private and family life) and The Grand Chamber found in favour of the association as far as Art 8 was concerned.  

The Court declared that Switzerland had failed to comply with its positive obligations under the Convention concerning climate change. States had an obligation to adopt “timely, adequate, and consistent” measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change to protect people’s homes and lives.  The Court found that there were criticial gaps in establishing a relevant domestic regulatory framework, including by means of a carbon budget or national CHG emissions limitations.  The Court acknowledged the direct link between insufficient climate measures and the infringement of the right to private and family life.  Furthermore the Court was severely critical of the Swiss authorities`s lack of coherent strategy to meet emission-reduction targets, its failure to show adequate implementation of domestic laws aligning with international commitments (Paris Agreement) and policy failures on climate mitigation targets.

The composition of the Grand Chamber is that of 17 Judges.  One of the Judges of the Court that gave that judgement was Judge Lorraine Schembri Orland from Malta. 

This October, Judge Schembri Orland will be in Malta to attend and speak at International Conference : “Upholding Good Governance in Challenging Times : The Role of the Ombudsman” that will be marking the 30th Anniversary of the constitution of the Office of the Ombudsman in Malta.  She will be a panelist on the theme: “Protecting the Vulnerable: The Role of the Ombudsman in Protecting Human Rights”.

Last week, information was disseminated about the problem with water supply in Gori,[1] as well as the problem with insufficient water supply in Kavtiskhevi.[2]

The population of Gori connects the drinking water supply outage to the construction of one of the residential buildings, where locals also expressed protest.

According to the information disseminated by the United Water Supply Company of Georgia on August 2, as well as by the Gori City Hall on August 3, rehabilitation works were underway on the water supply network in Gori, and the extension of the work process and the postponement of the restoration of water supply were due to unforeseen factors identified during the relocation of the central drinking water main. Although water supply has been restored in Gori, local residents are reporting a decrease in water flow and deterioration in quality.[3]

In light of these cases, the Public Defender once again reminds the public and all responsible agencies that equal and equitable access to sufficient safe water for both personal and household use (drinking, sanitation, washing, cooking, and personal and domestic hygiene) is an internationally recognized human right. Recognition of this right requires the existence and protection of appropriate standards.

Citizens have the right to access full information on water supply issues, including the reasons for water supply outage, its duration, the time of restoration of water supply, and the quality of the water supplied. Without this, the realization of the right to water is unthinkable. Citizens should be informed in a timely manner, in a simple and understandable language, using the most effective means at the local level. Possible obstacles for citizens to access such information should be considered, including language barriers, Internet access issues, vulnerable groups, and local context. In addition, citizens have the right to be provided with the minimum necessary amount of water until the problem is resolved. Complete disconnection of water supply without access to alternative sources violates human rights.

In addition, it is noteworthy that water supply license companies are obliged to comply with the drinking water supply and consumption rules established by the National Energy Regulatory Commission of Georgia.

Any person, if his or her rights are violated, has the right to file a complaint with the Commission’s Public Defender of Consumer Interests, the Commission, or apply to the court.

Unfortunately, serious problems with water supply and violations of citizens' rights in this regard are acute in a number of municipalities in Georgia. The Public Defender has dedicated a special report to the standards related to the right to water and the challenges existing in the country in this regard.

The Public Defender of Georgia, within the framework of his mandate, will examine the issue of alleged violations of human rights standards during the water outages in Gori.

Der Bürgerbeauftragte konnte am 5. August 2025 ein sehr wertvolles Gespräch mit der amtierenden Landesvorsitzenden, Frau Birgit Heller, vom Weissen Ring e.V. führen, Deutschlands größter Hilfsorganisation für Opfer von Kriminalität. Vor Ort wird aktive Opferhilfe geleistet und zur Prävention von Straftaten beraten – ein sicherer Raum für Menschen, die oft mit Angst, Verunsicherung und schwerer psychischer Belastung kämpfen. Wir brauchen ein stärkeres gesellschaftliches Bewusstsein für die Situation von Opfern und für diese äußerst wertvolle Arbeit dieser Helferinnen und Helfer. Danke an alle, die sich ehrenamtlich mit so viel Herz für die Betroffenen einsetzen!