La justicia de Aragón recibe la queja de los farmacéuticos rurales sobre la regulación de las guardias

Date of article: 15/05/2025

Daily News of: 20/05/2025

Country:  Spain - Aragon

Author: Regional Ombudsman of Aragón

Article language: es

Concepción Gimeno se ha reunido con Isabel Alonso y Ricardo Benlloch, farmacéuticos de Borja y Gallur, respectivamente

La justicia de Aragón, Concepción Gimeno, se ha reunido este jueves con farmacéuticos rurales, quienes le han trasladado su queja por la regulación de las guardias. Según han expuesto Isabel Alonso y Ricardo Benlloch, farmacéuticos de Borja y Gallur, en municipios con centro de salud y más de una farmacia es obligatorio que una de ellas esté siempre de guardia.

En concreto, cuando en el municipio hay dos farmacias están se tienen que turnar para que siempre haya una de guardia las 24 horas del día, lo que al farmacéutico le supone trabajar más de 5.000 horas anuales y estar de guardia cada quince días, sin posibilidad de descanso cuando termina. Añaden que la atención que deben dispensar no se limita a situaciones de urgencia, puesto que están obligados a dispensar cualquier producto, con o sin receta, como puede ser un chupete, una pomada o la receta habitual de los pacientes crónicos.

Ante esta situación, han explicado a la justicia de Aragón su propuesta de modificar el Decreto 197/2009, de 17 de noviembre, del Gobierno de Aragón, que regula, entre otras cuestiones, las guardias de las farmacias comunitarias.

Los farmacéuticos han insistido en que la solución de contratar profesionales titulados no es factible por la escasez de farmacéuticos en el mercado laboral.

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News from the Ombudsman’s Office: April 2025

Date of article: 14/05/2025

Daily News of: 20/05/2025

Country:  Latvia

Author: Ombudsman of Latvia

Article language: en

News and events of the Ombudsman’s Office in April 2025 (information in links mostly available in Latvian).

Apply for online training on sexual harassment

Interested parties are invited to apply for the free online training ‘Sexual harassment or NO=NO’ organised by the Ombudsman’s Office: training for general and professional secondary school managements and teachers will be held on 14 May at 14.00 – 16.00; for representatives of government institutions on 21 May at 14.00 – 16.00 and for representatives of local government institutions on 28 May at 14.00 – 16.00.

‘Election marathon’- lectures for pupils all over Latvia

In the end of April, with lectures on the importance of elections in democratic society in several schools in Latgale region the Ombudsman’s Office concluded the ‘election marathon’ for school youth.

Senior social care centre Liepa urgently needs to remedy violations: otherwise, their activity must be stopped

Senior social care centre ‘Liepa’ in Riga must immediately remedy breaches of hygiene and sanitary requirements, otherwise the supervisory authorities will terminate the contract for the provision of the service or even decide to suspend the service altogether.

Sexual remarks are not innocent among schoolchildren – young people may become liable according to the harshness of law

Sexual remarks, resentment and humiliation at school are not a rarity. The Ombudsman draws attention to the fact that this can be regarded not only as rudeness, but as sexual harassment, for which young people may incur administrative responsibility. But in some cases, even as sexual exploitation, according to criminal liability.

Winners of the Ombudsman’s moot court in human rights 2025 have been determined

On 26 April, with the victory of the team from the University of Latvia ‘Fluctus Legis’ (participants: Atis Alens Kabaļs, Elīna Freidenfelde, Krista Dzikoviča; trainer – Paula Kelly) the final of the Ombudsman’s moot court in human rights 2025 was celebrated.

Should nowadays there still be kindergarten and primary boarding schools?

Living in a boarding school is not the child’s second home. This is contrary to the right of the child to live in a family, which is the basis for their full development and preparation for an independent life. Unfortunately, several thousand children in our country are effectively deprived of regular contact with the family and the presence of a person of care and trust.

‘Barnahus’ in Latvia is still on its way to reaching the target

‘Barnahus’, created specifically for interviewing child victims of violence, should aim for the highest standards of professionalism, with the highest qualifications. Further efforts are still needed to achieve this goal.

Shadow Day at the Ombudsman’s Office

On 4 April, 12 students from Aizkraukle, Ādaži, Jelgava, Olaine, Riga, Talsi, Valmiera and Ventspils visited the Ombudsman’s Office during the traditional Shadow Day to get acquainted with the specifics of the professions of lawyer and communication or public relations specialist and their duties.

Deforestation can be compensated by afforestation elsewhere

The calculation of deforestation compensation for forest owners has become more proportionate and effective. One of the main changes is that residents will henceforth be able to choose between paying compensation or growing a forest elsewhere, thus compensating for the consequences of deforestation. This was also the Ombudsman’s recommendation almost three years ago.

How much does an official earn – a justified claim or just curiosity?

The requirement to publish the monthly remuneration calculated for officials on the homepage of the institution is a disproportionate interference in their private life and is incompatible with the Constitution. Already now, information on the remuneration is available to the public.

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Public Defender Presents Special Report on Administration of Justice relating to Life-Sentenced Prisoners

Date of article: 19/05/2025

Daily News of: 20/05/2025

Country:  Georgia

Author: Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia

Article language: en

On May 19, 2025, the Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, presented the Legislative and Practical Analysis of Administration of Justice and Parole of Life-Sentenced Prisoners.

The special report reviews the procedures required for commutation, mitigation, termination of sentence or parole of life-sentenced prisoners in the Georgian penitentiary system, the international practice of extending leniency to them, and the compliance of guarantees and mechanisms available in Georgia with European standards.

In his speech, the Public Defender spoke about the shortcomings identified as a result of the study of criminal cases and the trends identified in the penitentiary system in relation to life-sentenced prisoners during the period of serving their sentences, and emphasized the importance of fair administration of justice.

The event was also addressed by Levan Tevzadze, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court of Georgia and Chairman of the Criminal Chamber, Rati Ionatamishvili, Chairman of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, and Giorgi Dgebuadze, Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia.

After the presentation, the attendees held a discussion on the issues reflected in the report.

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Correspondence with Ministry for Home Affairs, Security and Employment on Own-Initiative Investigation into Corradino Correctional Facility published

Date of article: 19/05/2025

Daily News of: 20/05/2025

Country:  Malta

Author: National Ombudsman of Malta

Article language: en

The Office of the Ombudsman is publishing the correspondence exchanged with the Ministry for Home Affairs, Security and Employment regarding the own-initiative investigation into allegations of systemic maladministration within the Corradino Correctional Facility.

On 31 January 2025, the Ombudsman published a detailed report following the conclusion of an own-initiative investigation into the administration and operational practices at the facility. The report set out a number of recommendations aimed at improving standards, enhancing transparency, and strengthening oversight in the interest of both persons in the correctional facility and the wider public.

Subsequently, on 3 April 2025, the Parliamentary Ombudsman Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon wrote to the Minister for Home Affairs Security and Employment, the Hon. Byron Camilleri requesting a formal response on whether the recommendations outlined in the report would be implemented, and if so, inviting the Ministry to outline the methodology of implementation.

On 16 April 2025, the Minister, responded in a detailed letter outlining the Ministry’s ongoing reform process at the Correctional Services Agency. The Minister referred to significant changes made in the aftermath of the 2021 Grech Inquiry, which preceded and was referenced in the Ombudsman’s report. These included legislative reforms, the establishment of the Commissioner for Prisoners’ Welfare and Development, infrastructural upgrades, investment in rehabilitation programmes, and greater collaboration with civil society and international bodies.

The Ombudsman replied on 17 April 2025, requesting the Ministry’s formal consent to publish both his original letter and the Minister’s response in full, in line with the Office’s commitment to transparency.

On 16 May 2025, after no further response was received, the Ombudsman wrote once more to the Minister, advising that unless circumstances dictated otherwise, the Office would proceed with publication of the full correspondence between the Office of the Ombudsman and the Ministry following the publication of the report, in the interest of transparency and public accountability.

On the same day the Ministry informed the Ombudsman that it had no objection to the publication of this correspondence.

The full exchange of letters is being published.

Correspondence between the Office of the Ombudsman and the Ministry for Home Affairs, Security and Employment

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Il caso della settimana

Date of article: 19/05/2025

Daily News of: 20/05/2025

Country:  Italy - Lazio

Author: Regional Ombudsman of Lazio

Article language: it

Un cittadino coinvolto in un procedimento penale chiede l’accesso agli atti: il Difensore Civico accoglie il ricorso e il Comune gli trasmette la comunicazione che in precedenza aveva inviato solo alla scuola.

 

Il Difensore Civico della Regione Lazio è stato chiamato a intervenire in merito a un ricorso presentato da un cittadino coinvolto in un procedimento penale connesso a una denuncia in ambito coniugale.

Il caso riguardava il rifiuto, da parte di un Comune, di fornire copia della comunicazione inviata alla scuola frequentata dai figli del ricorrente, relativa a una misura cautelare adottata dall’Autorità Giudiziaria nei suoi confronti.

La richiesta di accesso era motivata dal desiderio di comprendere i contenuti e la proporzionalità della comunicazione stessa, soprattutto in vista delle difficoltà riscontrate dai nonni paterni – genitori del ricorrente – nell’accompagnare i nipoti a scuola.

A fronte del diniego iniziale da parte del Comune, il cittadino si è rivolto al Difensore Civico ai sensi dell’art. 25 della Legge 241/1990. Dopo un’attenta valutazione, il Difensore ha accolto il ricorso, ritenendo legittimo il diritto di accesso del cittadino agli atti amministrativi che lo riguardano e che non risultano coperti da segreto istruttorio.

Il Comune ha dato seguito immediato alla decisione del Difensore, trasmettendo al ricorrente la comunicazione originariamente inviata all’istituto scolastico.

L’intera vicenda si è conclusa senza compromettere in alcun modo la sicurezza della persona denunciante né quella dei minori coinvolti.

Il cittadino ha successivamente formalizzato un sentito ringraziamento all’Ufficio del Difensore Civico.

 

Nota:

Il Difensore Civico non si schiera né con la parte denunciante né con quella denunciata, ma tutela il diritto di ogni cittadino – anche se sottoposto a un procedimento penale pendente – a conoscere gli atti amministrativi che lo riguardano, nel rispetto della legge e della riservatezza altrui.

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