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!

El Defensor del Pueblo, Ángel Gabilondo, se ha dirigido a la alcaldesa del municipio murciano de Jumilla para solicitar información sobre la prohibición de llevar a cabo celebraciones religiosas en instalaciones municipales, tras la moción aprobada en el último Pleno municipal.

A través de esta actuación de oficio, el Defensor del Pueblo quiere conocer “el contenido del acuerdo adoptado por el Pleno municipal del pasado 6 de agosto con la indicación de  las medidas previstas a fin de facilitar el ejercicio de los actos de culto a las confesiones religiosas que, por sus singulares características, hayan de ser celebrados en lugares públicos tales como pabellones o polideportivos”.

Since January 1, 2025, the Parliamentary Ombudspersons’ Office has assumed the role of the National Rapporteur on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. Previously, this responsibility was held by the Ministry of the Interior. The decision to transfer this function to the Parliamentary Ombudspersons’ Office was made to ensure the independence of the National Rapporteur from involvement in the formulation, implementation, and coordination of state policy related to combating human trafficking.  

The Parliamentary Ombudspersons’ Office has issued a report of the situation on combating human trafficking in the Republic of Lithuania in 2024. The report highlights key positive changes, challenges, and systemic issues identified in the field of combating human trafficking in 2024, as well as provides relevant recommendations to state institutions and agencies. 

The latest report reveals that conditions remain favorable for trafficking in human beings, with rising numbers of foreign victims and inconsistent institutional responses.  

A favourable environment for trafficking in human beings 

The 2024 report on the situation of human trafficking in Lithuania shows that conditions are favourable both for the recruitment of Lithuanian citizens for exploitation abroad and for the exploitation of third-country nationals within Lithuania. The number of third-country victims increased significantly over the past year. Among the 22 officially recognised victims, 18 were citizens of third countries, most commonly from Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Belarus. All of these individuals were subjected to forced labour exploitation, primarily in the transport sector. 

In total, 26 pre-trial investigations were ongoing in 2024, with 17 new investigations, (27% increase compared to 2023). Almost half of these new cases concerned trafficking for labour exploitation, others involved sexual exploitation, exploitation for criminal activities (such as theft), forced begging, and two cases involving child trafficking (illegal adoption), one of which was related to surrogate motherhood. Notably, Lithuania was identified as the country of destination in 82% of new cases, 50% more than in 2023, underscoring its growing attractiveness to traffickers.  

It is noteworthy that in 2024, for the first time since 2010, no human trafficking cases were referred to the courts of first instance. A total of 12 individuals (2 women and 10 men) were convicted, half as many as in 2023. In the same period, charges were brought against 27 individuals and one legal entity. This shows a clear increase compared to the previous year, even as case referrals to courts declined. 

Official statistics do not reflect reality 

Most identified victims were men aged 31– 40. Notably, no victims aged 18–20 were recorded in 2024, while there were victims also including individuals aged 51– 60 and over 60 years old. Such a tendency reveals the broader vulnerability of affected groups. However, pre-trial investigation data does not reflect the true scale and demographics of human trafficking. In reality, far more adults of both genders and children fall victim to this crime. For example, trafficking for sexual exploitation remains widespread across the European Union, yet in Lithuania, only 3 pre-trial investigations were initiated on this basis last year, one of which was discontinued. 

“Criminal groups often manage to evade law enforcement and manipulate their victims to the extent that they rarely perceive themselves as victims of trafficking. Victims are also reluctant to seek help due to fear of retaliation from traffickers, mistrust of authorities, feelings of shame, or lack of legal residency in the country,” says Parliamentary Ombudsperson Dr. Erika Leonaitė. She emphasizes that victims are often deceived or exploited because of their vulnerability linked to poverty, addiction, or disability. 

The much higher actual number of victims is also reflected in data provided by non-governmental organisations. Last year, they provided comprehensive assistance to 107 new victims of trafficking, and 132 people received continuing support. Most assistance services included information and counselling, help with personal documentation, support for integration into society, job search and employment assistance, and legal services. 

Diverging approaches of national institutions 

In 2024, state and municipal institutions participated in national and international training for professionals and experts, carried out awareness campaigns, and disseminated information about trafficking forms, risks, appropriate responses, and available support. Furthermore, Lithuania adopted its third national action plan against trafficking in human beings for the year of 2024-2026 to ensure progress in tackling this issue. 

Despite these efforts, the response to human trafficking remains uneven, depending on available resources, institutional policies, and the attitudes of staff. Many systemic challenges remain, including the absence of an effective mechanism for recognising victims who are reluctant to engage with law enforcement, the limited funding available for NGOs, and a lack of proactive identification of potential victims. 

According to Seimas Ombudsperson Dr Jolita Miliuvienė, these differences are particularly evident among municipalities: “Nearly one-third of municipalities choose not to take measures because they do not perceive human trafficking as a problem in their regions. Since they are not legally obliged to implement trafficking prevention measures, those municipalities that do take action do so on their initiative or based on recommendations.” 

Recommendations: more consistency, resources, and accountability 

The Parliamentary Ombudspersons’ Office has issued recommendations to ministries and other governmental institutions, urging them to strengthen efforts to combat human trafficking by improving legislation, allocating dedicated budgets, and expanding specialized training. It also recommended enhancing cooperation between state and municipal institutions and assisting non-governmental organisations to ensure more effective prevention and better support for victims. 

The report further stresses the need to guarantee assistance and ensure its accessibility for all victims of trafficking, regardless of whether they have been formally recognized as victims by law enforcement. These recommendations align with Directive (EU) 2024/1712, amending Directive 2011/36/EU, which calls for a comprehensive, victim-centered approach to prevention, protection, and prosecution.  

Read the full report in Lithuanian here.