On 20 March 2026, the Colourful as a Butterfly event took place in Krško to mark World Down Syndrome Day. The Human Rights Ombudswoman, Dr Simona Drenik Bavdek, addressed those present. She emphasised that this day provides an opportunity to reflect on the fundamental connectedness between people. She highlighted the importance of meeting and getting to know one another in order to build relationships, as this enables an understanding of an individual’s needs and creates space for support, assistance, and shared well-being.

The Ombudswoman emphasised that everyone has the right to their place in society. This includes equal opportunities in education, employment, healthcare, and active participation in the community. Despite progress, she noted that persons with Down syndrome still face various barriers and inequalities, which calls for additional efforts from society as a whole. She stressed that individuals must not only be formally included in educational or work processes, but must also feel accepted, have friends, and experience a sense of belonging.

The United Nations General Assembly has designated 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day, and this year’s observance is taking place under the slogan Together Against Isolation. The Ombudswoman pointed out that loneliness is a common experience for persons with Down syndrome, as well as for their family members. She emphasised the distinction between voluntary solitude and unwanted loneliness, calling for the creation of more opportunities for socialising, connecting, and building friendships.

She also highlighted that everyone needs relationships, a sense of belonging, and the knowledge that someone cares about them. Every individual can contribute to a more inclusive society, even through small acts such as approaching someone, extending an invitation, or showing openness towards others.

According to her, the Colourful as a Butterfly event represents an important step in this direction, as it provided a space for people to meet, get to know one another, and break down prejudices. Through their presence and participation, attendees demonstrated that a community can overcome differences and create an environment in which no one is left alone.

Environmental and social sustainability Just and green transition

When 25 March 2026 - 26 March 2026

Where Vienna, Austria

Organised By Equinet

External event

From 25 to 26 March, FRA will take part in the Equinet seminar on Data for Climate Justice: Monitoring Equality in a Changing Environment in Vienna.

Visit event site

FRA will present its report ‘Fundamental rights and housing in the EU’s climate and energy transition’. 

Summary of the decision: The Government Offices of Sweden is criticised for failing to process a request for access to email logs with the promptness required by the Freedom of the Press Act (SFS 1949:105).

It is not permitted to dispose of a document while there is an outstanding request to access it that has not yet been finally examined. The Parliamentary Ombudsman holds that it must therefore be ensured that an email log is not automatically deleted while it is the subject of a request for access.

El Defensor del Pueblo, Ángel Gabilondo, ha participado este viernes en el homenaje póstumo a Francisco Fernández Marugán que se ha celebrado en el Congreso de los Diputados, y que ha estado organizado por la Asociación de ex diputados y ex senadores y por la institución Defensor del Pueblo.

Durante su intervención, el Defensor del Pueblo ha asegurado que “se trataba de una persona buena, trabajadora, sencilla y humilde. Desde luego muy competente, pero he elegido estas palabras porque considero que los adjetivos dan mejor cuenta de lo que ha sido alguien y, en esa medida, de lo que es, de aquello que pervive más allá de su fallecimiento. En los adjetivos se expresan las emociones, los sentimientos y los afectos”.

Ángel Gabilondo ha querido destacar los años de Francisco F. Marugán al frente de la institución Defensor del Pueblo, señalando que “siempre mostró una enorme sensibilidad y dedicación a los asuntos que afectan a los más vulnerables, marginados, desplazados, a quienes padecen más los efectos de la desigualdad que de una u otra manera se ha constituido en vértebra de la sociedad”. Así, ha remarcado que “nunca abandonó ese modo de ser y de proceder desde su compromiso temprano con quienes más lo necesitan”.

El Defensor del Pueblo ha subrayado también que “este acto muestra una vez más hasta dónde cabe expresar el afecto y el reconocimiento y el sentimiento de una ausencia, a pesar de que este Parlamento no se ha limitado a albergar un puñado de palabras. Hemos venido por él, por vosotros. Y también porque lo necesitábamos todos nosotros, todas nosotras”.

En el homenaje, además del Defensor del Pueblo, han intervenido Soledad Becerril, Jordi Casas, Alfonso Guerra, Cándido Méndez y Juan Van-Halen.

Francisco Fernández Marugán falleció el pasado 30 de diciembre en Madrid. Fue Defensor del Pueblo en funciones desde el 20 de julio de 2017 hasta el 17 de noviembre de 2021, y previamente ocupó el cargo de adjunto primero en el mandato de Soledad Becerril.

Nacido en Cáceres en 1946, Marugán se formó como economista y fue miembro del Cuerpo de Técnicos de Administración Civil y del Cuerpo de Inspectores Financieros y Tributarios. Diputado al Congreso desde 1982 hasta 2011, primero por Sevilla, y desde 1986 por Badajoz, desempeñó una importante labor en el ámbito presupuestario y fue ponente de numerosos textos legislativos en materia económica.

Al acto, en el que han estado presentes la mujer de Paco Marugán, María Luisa García, sus hijos, Luis y Paz y otros familiares, han asistido la adjunta segunda del Defensor del Pueblo, Patricia Bárcena, representantes de la Asociación de ex diputados y ex senadores, y personal de la institución Defensor del Pueblo.

During the departure of IDPs from Donetsk region to temporary accommodation sites from the transit center in Lozova, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on September 26, 2025 (Photo by Viacheslav Madiievskyi/Ukrinform)

As the United Nations publishes today a report documenting Russia’s violations of human rights and humanitarian law and discriminatory policies that force Ukrainians to leave the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, I reiterate my position that peace negotiations, notably when addressing territorial issues, should not ignore the profound and irreparable suffering of Ukrainians living under Russian occupation.

Experience has shown that each time Russia’s occupation expands to new Ukrainian territories, patterns of grave human rights violations and international crimes are repeated and intensified, while impunity for these violations and crimes remains pervasive.

The UN report confirms that Ukrainians living under occupation endure blatant violations of their human rights and multi-layered pressure to abandon their homes and identities. The violations include the imposition of Russian citizenship to maintain access to rights such as the right to healthcare and to property, severe restrictions on freedom of expression and the militarisation and indoctrination of children in schools.

These actions come alongside other gross violations of human rights as documented, for example, in other UN reports and the Council of Europe Secretary General’s regular reports on the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. The violations include illegal detention, enforced disappearances, torture, unlawful prosecutions, deportation of civilians, including children and the persecution of peaceful dissidents. I deplore the continued lack of safe and unfettered physical access to the temporarily occupied territories for regional and international human rights organisations.

Many Ukrainians who have fled the temporarily occupied territories to government-controlled areas or abroad are now cut off from loved ones who remain behind, unable to visit their homes, maintain regular contact, or secure safe reunification. Humanitarian corridors are crucial to enable the restoration of ties with Ukrainian society and to facilitate the freedom of movement of Ukrainians who have refused Russian citizenship.

I note that in addition to the direct and indirect forcible transfer or deportation of Ukrainians out of the temporarily occupied territories, there have been reports of new plans by Russia to continue massive transfer of its own citizens there. I observe that the forcible transfer or deportation of a civilian population out of an occupied territory and the transfer by the occupying authorities of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies constitute war crimes and grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions under international law.

International law further demands that occupying authorities protect the populations under their control. The imposition of citizenship, property confiscation, and repression of dissent must never be normalised or tolerated. These violations also undermine the right of all persons displaced by the conflict to return to their homes in conditions of safety and dignity.

As peace negotiations continue, I reiterate my call that all those involved keep at the centre of their considerations the human rights violations and human suffering brought about by occupation. In this respect, I fully support the UN report’s call: “The international community should ensure that peace negotiations include the meaningful consideration of the situations and interests of displaced persons and address specifically their voluntary, safe and dignified return to places of origin in occupied territory, with full respect for their human rights and international humanitarian law.”

Lasting peace cannot be achieved by sidelining victims and allowing gross violations of human rights.