El Ararteko se suma a esta declaración de la ENOC, que considera necesario establecer garantías eficaces para asegurar la protección efectiva de los derechos de estos menores, ya que el Pacto suscita preocupación por el trato que pudieran recibir en las fronteras europeas.

La Red Europea de Defensorías de Infancia (ENOC), que agrupa a 44 organismos de defensa de los derechos de niños, niñas y adolescentes de 34 países de Europa, ha expresado de manera reiterada y persistente su preocupación por la situación de las niñas, niños y adolescentes migrantes, emitiendo una serie de recomendaciones relativas a ellos y a la necesidad de aumentar la protección de sus derechos de conformidad con la normativa internacional y regional.

Desde 2015, millones de niños, niñas y adolescentes han llegado a Europa en busca de seguridad y protección. Desde 2020 se han registrado más de 800.000 nuevas solicitudes de asilo de menores de edad en los países de la Unión Europea (UE), de las cuales, más de 113.000 corresponden a menores no acompañados o separados de sus familias.

Ahora que los Estados miembros de la UE se preparan para aplicar el Pacto sobre Migración y Asilo adoptado el 10 de abril de 2024, ENOC considera necesario establecer garantías eficaces para asegurar la protección efectiva de los derechos de estos niños, niñas y adolescentes, ya que el Pacto suscita preocupación por el trato que pudieran recibir en las fronteras europeas.

A menos que los mecanismos de reparto de responsabilidades y solidaridad previstos por el Pacto sean realmente eficaces, éste no resolverá la "presión" sobre los Estados de primera entrada. Para mitigar el riesgo de que se produzcan vulneraciones de los derechos humanos en las fronteras y de que se erosione aún más el derecho a solicitar asilo, se deben establecer suficientes garantías de los derechos humanos, incluidos mecanismos de supervisión eficaces e independientes, evaluaciones cuidadosas de la vulnerabilidad y derivación rápida a servicios adaptados (como servicios de protección a la infancia y asistencia sanitaria), provisión de información crítica y asistencia jurídica, sistemas para la investigación nacional rápida y eficaz de presuntos malos tratos.

La UE y sus Estados miembros deben dar prioridad a las inversiones económicas y operativas para dotar adecuadamente de recursos a los sistemas nacionales de asilo y acogida. En lugar de intentar disuadir a toda costa a la gente de llegar a Europa, los Estados deberían centrarse en defender los derechos fundamentales y la dignidad de las personas.

El Ararteko, miembro de la red ENOC, se suma a esta declaración institucional ad hoc sobre la protección de sus derechos. 

DECLARACIÓN INSTITUCIONAL DE LA ENOC

Vitoria-Gasteiz, 12 de febrero de 2025

On February 11, 2025, the Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, met with the Minister of IDPs from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs, Mikheil Sarjveladze.

The parties discussed the current situation in the country in the psychiatric field and the recommendations developed by the Public Defender for the development of mental health services. They also emphasized the importance of cooperation between agencies in the process of eliminating challenges.

The meeting was attended by the Deputies of the Public Defender, Elene Ghudushauri and Irine Chikhladze, and employees of the Office, as well as Deputy Minister of Health Irine Tsakadze and other representatives.

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) has reacted constructively to a series of findings by the Ombudsman related to how it carried out remote tests as part of the recruitment process for the EU civil service.

In response to four cases where the Ombudsman had found maladministration, EPSO offered the candidates concerned the possibility to redo the tests. The complainants had encountered a variety of problems when they first took the remote tests administered by EPSO’s contractor, including technical problems in launching tests, a lack of or improperly working tools on the testing platform, and excessively long waiting times before a supervisor was available.

In addition to the cases where the Ombudsman found maladministration, EPSO settled a further two cases during the course of the Ombudsman’s inquiries by deciding to invite the complainants to retake the tests.

In response to a suggestion and remarks by the Ombudsman in two other testing-related inquiries, EPSO also said it would ensure it is possible to retroactively review the functionality of tools used by candidates during the tests and make it possible in the future to automatically provide candidates with a copy of their answers and the correct answers after testing.

Relevant inquiries

How the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) dealt with a complaint about technical problems in a selection procedure (EPSO/AST/155/22 - Assistants in the field of operational security) - 413/2023/MAG

How the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) handled a complaint concerning issues in the context of remote testing as part of selection procedure EPSO/AST/151/22-3 - 1027/2023/MAG

How the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) handled a complaint concerning the unavailability of proctors during a remote test in a selection procedure for EU staff EPSO/AD/398/22 - 1030/2023/MAG

How the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) handled a complaint concerning technical difficulties experienced during remote testing - 1735/2023/MAG

How the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) handled a complaint concerning technical issues during a remote test for an EU staff selection procedure - 1039/2023/MAG

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) no longer providing candidates with access to their answers and to the correct answers in the multiple-choice questionnaires (MCQ) - 1360/2024/MAG

How the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) dealt with technical issues in the remote testing in an EU staff selection procedure - 34/2024/MAG

How EPSO dealt with technical issues experienced by a candidate in selection procedure EPSO/AD/398/22 - 261/2024/MAG

A High Court judge has found in favour of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman after a local authority challenged its report about childcare.

The report, which was due to be published in 2022, involved a complaint about parents being required to pay top-up fees for free nursery placements under the Government’s Free Early Educational Entitlement (FEEE) scheme.

The local authority under investigation, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, disputed the decision on a number of grounds and challenged the Ombudsman’s view that the top up fees imposed should have been voluntary through the judicial review process.

The case was heard before Mr David Lock KC, sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court on 29 January 2025 and a decision was handed down on 7 February, upholding the Ombudsman’s understanding of the case.

Ombudsman, Ms Amerdeep Somal, said:

“We welcome the judge’s decision, which brings to a conclusion a protracted case that has spanned a number of years.

“While we acknowledge councils will want to make justified challenges, we will take a robust stance to defend our decisions, which are based on evidence and arrived at after a great deal of careful consideration.

“I am pleased the judge has agreed with our position and understanding of the facts, law and guidance surrounding this case.”