La aplicación del gravámen de uso doméstico actual puede derivar en un abandono de los campos

El Síndic de Greuges de Cataluña ha recibido varias quejas porque a los campos sin actividad económica se les aplica el tipo de gravamen doméstico del canon del agua, aunque utilicen agua de fuentes propias

Por un lado, la normativa vigente regula los usos del agua y especifica que, para aplicar el gravamen de uso agrícola, es necesario que existan actividades económicas concretas asociadas. Si no se tienen estas actividades declaradas, se considera que el agua que se utiliza para regar es de uso doméstico.

Por otro lado, las personas con estos campos no comerciales expresan su malestar con este tratamiento, y denuncian que es muy difícil mantener pequeños cultivos familiares con estas condiciones y que esto puede acabar derivando en un abandono de las tierras.

Tras estudiar el caso, la síndica ha pedido a las autoridades competentes que valoren una posible revisión del actual régimen del canon del agua para determinar si es necesario establecer una tributación específica para el riego de tierras agrícolas sin actividad económica asociada. Esta medida permitiría dar respuesta a una realidad social existente y evitar efectos no deseados sobre el territorio y el paisaje rural.

La Red Europea contra la Pobreza es una organización no lucrativa y de acción social que reúne a las organizaciones autonómicas del tercer sector implicadas en la lucha contra la pobreza y la exclusión a través de la defensa de los derechos de los colectivos en riesgo y de su participación comunitaria plena.

El pasado martes Dolores Fernández Galiño, Valedora do Pobo, acompañada por el secretario Xeral de la institución, Fernando de Andrés, visitó las nuevas instalaciones que EAPN Galicia tiene en Santiago de Compostela. Fueron recibidos por Xosé Cuns, director en Galicia de EAPN,  por Javier Hermida, vicepresidente, y además director de la Federación Alzheimer Galicia, y por la responsable de programas y comunicación Clara de Vega.  Todos ellos mantuvieron una reunión dentro del contexto de colaboración que existe entre la institución de la Valedora do Pobo y EAPN Galicia.

Se trataron temas como la inmigración, vivienda, dependencia y discapacidad, el papel de las entidades del tercer sector en la inclusión laboral de las personas vulnerables, los riesgos de la utilización de la inteligencia artificial en estos ámbitos y la lucha contra el discurso del odio y la aporofobia.

Concepción Gimeno ha expresado su admiración por la labor que realiza la entidad y la disposición de la institución a colaborar en el marco de las competencias propias

La justicia de Aragón, Concepción Gimeno, ha visitado este viernes las instalaciones que el Banco de Alimentos de Zaragoza tiene en Mercazaragoza, donde ha sido recibido por su presidente, José Ignacio Alfaro; la secretaria del Patronato, Mayte Herrero, y miembros del Patronato como María Teresa Fernández y Clara Arpa.

Con sus treinta años recién cumplidos, el Banco de Alimentos es una fundación sin ánimo de lucro cuya labor es obtener alimentos por distintas vías y hacerlos llegar a las entidades, quienes las reparten a las familias necesitadas o los utilizan en sus comedores sociales.

La fundación atendió el año pasado a 138 entidades, lo que les permitió alcanzar las 21.369 personas atendidas y superar los tres millones de kilos de comida repartidos. Todo esto gracias a la labor desinteresada y constante de más de 140 voluntarios que permiten que el Banco de Alimentos consiga sus objetivos.

Concepción Gimeno ha escuchado las inquietudes de la fundación, entre otras, lo valioso que sería para todas las entidades sociales y también para la administración contar con un registro de las personas que son atendidas y de las ayudas que reciben para evitar las duplicidades y poder personalizar la atención.

Councils’ housing allocations schemes is the subject of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s third practical guide for housing officers to help improve services for Disabled people.

The latest guide highlights issues Disabled people face when applying to councils’ housing schemes, and the changes local councils can make to improve those services.

Issues covered in the Guide include councils’ delays when processing, assessing and reviewing medical assessments and housing applications by Disabled people.

The Guide also reminds councils not to rely solely on advice from external medical advisors, many of whom never see the Disabled person or their living arrangements.

The Ombudsman also recommends councils have sufficient discretion within the allocations scheme to be able to take into account people’s individual circumstances.

It also urges councils to think holistically about the service they offer and to include other departments – such as adults and children’s services – to work together to ensure the best possible outcomes.

Ms Amerdeep Somal, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said:

“All too often we see councils not treating people – including Disabled people – as individuals with their own set of personal circumstances when processing applications to housing allocations schemes.

“We have seen cases where local authorities have relied too heavily on independent medical reports to make a decision about a person’s priority, without taking a broader look at that person’s circumstances.

“And we have also seen officers stick too rigidly to flawed beliefs about their councils’ schemes, and assessing people’s applications against the wrong criteria.

“Our new Guide contains a number of useful recommendations that councils can use to take stock of the services they offer. It distils the key learning points into just a few pages and I would urge officers and decision makers who have responsibility for housing applications to have a read and see if their services could be improved.”

The guide, and other resources in the Ombudsman’s campaign to improve housing support for Disabled people, can be downloaded from the Ombudsman’s website.

Article date: 10 July 2025

Speaking at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, underscored the urgent need to place human rights at the centre of Ukraine’s reconstruction and the return of displaced people. Opening with a firm condemnation of ongoing Russian attacks on civilians, the Commissioner laid out eight principled recommendations to ensure that the return of refugees and internally displaced persons is conducted with dignity, on a voluntary basis and in full respect for international commitments; inclusive planning; support for veterans and people living in territory under temporary Russian occupation; and international efforts to secure the return of Ukrainian citizens relocated to Russia.

“Thank you very much. It is a great pleasure to be here and delighted to be invited.

Let me at the outset join with others in deploring the relentless Russian attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. These crimes are an outrage for which the perpetrators have got to be held accountable. And I am proud to belong to an organisation that is playing its role in creating the basis on which accountability can occur.

Turning to the specific topic of returns, it is essential that the return of IDPs and refugees always occur in full respect for their dignity. That is achieved by following the roadmap of human rights as laid out in the respective European and UN treaties and the other commitments.

Addressing return issues from this point of view leads me to a few observations. I like lists and so I have eight specific points very briefly.

The first is, as others have said, we must assiduously respect the principle of voluntary return. I am not referring here just to free choice, but also timing. States must avoid applying premature pressure for people to go home.

Second, until return proves possible, we have to ensure decent conditions for displaced persons. Regarding IDPs, as I have seen myself, this requires ensuring decent housing, access to education and social services. For refugees, it recalls the need to stay invested in such supports as the EU Temporary Protection Directive.

It is no less necessary to monitor and address any local lowered levels of welcome or even of hostility to refugee Ukrainians. In tackling all of these issues, I would like to join my voice to those who express great hope for the Ukraine Unity Hubs. I think it is a good idea that deserves our support. I also think it is an excellent idea that Ylva Johansson has been appointed as the EU special envoy.

Moving on to my third point, eventual return will be greatly facilitated by a reconstruction that is people-centred. This requires a focus on housing and social infrastructure, as well as, as we heard this morning, demining.

It also needs to address the particular needs of vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, a group whose situation was already problematic before the aggression.

Fourth, it is both an issue of human rights and of good return planning, that reparation is done and compensation is paid for war-related damage and loss. I recognise the central role that has been played in this regard by the Council of Europe with the Register of Damage and the Future Claims Commission.

Fifth, there is one community of returnees that require particular care and support: military veterans. Their need for rehabilitation and psychosocial support must not be neglected. And here, of course, I deeply applaud such existing initiatives as those led by the city of Lviv.

Sixth, we have to acknowledge that not everyone will want to return, as we have heard already this afternoon, and it will be necessary for their own good and for that of the host society to ensure their integration. Let's keep in mind, issues of family reunification will need to be addressed in this context.

Seventh, as we tackle the range of issues, human rights require that we deeply involve all impacted people in planning and implementation. It is no less important to be thoroughly gendered throughout, recognising the diverse experience and issues of women and men. I also recall here the requirements regarding the involvement of women that derive from UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

Eighth and finally, and very importantly, as we talk about these very many groups of people, let's never lose sight of the situation of two particular communities.

The first is people living in territory under temporary Russian occupation. They are experiencing grave human rights violations. They must not be forgotten.

The second is Ukrainian children, as well as adults, relocated to Russia. We must intensify our efforts for their return. I acknowledge with respect the important work on this being done by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, and others.

To conclude, I will continue to play my part in supporting the human rights of the people of Ukraine, including through promotion of the implementation of the Memorandum that I issued this week and which was supported this morning by the government of Ukraine.

Thank you very much.”