The Ombudsman monitored the opposition protest held in the capital on Sunday along the entire route.
The institution's working group visited hospitals and police stations to see and interview detained or injured protesters.
According to preliminary data, at least 12 adults were detained, while 4 minors were released after questioning.
At the Trauma Hospital, the Ombudsman's team handled the complaint of a protester who reported violence by the police, for which a relevant investigation has been launched.
The detailed report will be published at the conclusion of the administrative investigation.
The Ombudsman takes the opportunity to emphasize that while encouraging only peaceful gatherings, he calls on the law enforcement agencies to exercise restraint and professionalism, regardless of the dynamics of the protest.
It also emphasizes the need for transparency on the protocols used by the police for escalating force and the use of crowd dispersal tools such as tear gas or water.
The Office of the Ombudsman has taken note of remarks made by Mr Theo Vella, Secretary of the Section for Disciplined Forces, Security Officers and Law Enforcement within the General Workers’ Union, during a special Cabinet meeting held at the Civil Protection premises in Ħal Far on the theme of security in the country, to which the GWU and other trade unions were invited.
As reported in It-Torċa of Sunday 22 March, Mr Vella proposed the appointment of a Parliamentary Commissioner for members of the Disciplined Forces, Security and Law Enforcement sectors. He stated that such a Commissioner would be an independent agent of Parliament, appointed to safeguard the constitutional rights of officers within these sectors, oversee internal administration, investigate complaints, submit annual reports to Parliament, and exercise oversight over the sectors concerned.
Mr Vella also noted that similar models already exist in other jurisdictions, including Germany and, more recently, the United Kingdom. He argued that such an office should be established to protect the fundamental rights of workers in these sectors.
The Office of the Ombudsman notes that, within its present remit, it already receives complaints from members of the disciplined forces concerning acts or omissions of the public administration. The Office is also part of the Independent Police Complaints Authorities Network and regularly participates in seminars and conferences organised by IPCAN. It also participates in the annual conferences organised by the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), including the International Conference for Ombuds Institutions for the Armed Forces, which focuses on institutions that investigate complaints against the armed forces, and which the Office has been attending since 2014.
The Office further recalls that it had, in the past, proposed the creation of a specialised Commissioner for Disciplined Forces and for persons deprived of their liberty within the Office of the Ombudsman. Such a Commissioner would serve as an independent and autonomous Officer of Parliament with a focused remit in these areas.
The first reference to the need for such a specialised Commissioner dates back to the Annual Report for 2007, where the Ombudsman had identified the possibility that the mandate of a unified Ombudsman system could, in the future, extend to areas such as the disciplined forces, where the protection of citizens’ rights also arises.
Later, in January 2014, at the request of Government, the Office of the Ombudsman submitted a number of proposals on the strengthening of the institution. One of these proposals stated that concerns regarding the potential caseload could be addressed by extending the functions of a new Commissioner to include complaints from uniformed and non-uniformed personnel within the country’s security services, including the Armed Forces, the Police and Civil Protection. The Office had noted that complaints often required specialised expertise that such a Commissioner could provide.
This proposal was followed by a formal request made in September 2014, when the then Parliamentary Ombudsman wrote to the Prime Minister seeking approval for the appointment of a Commissioner within the Office to investigate complaints concerning the Disciplined Forces and persons deprived of their liberty. This request was made in terms of the amendments to the Ombudsman Act introduced in 2010 through Act No. XVII of 2010. The request was not accepted.
The Office of the Ombudsman considers that experience over the years has demonstrated the value of specialised Commissioners in strengthening oversight and improving public administration in areas such as education, health, environment and planning. The current legislative framework governing the Ombudsman also provides for the appointment of additional specialised Commissioners should the need arise.
Intervento della responsabile del Centro di tutela contro le discriminazioni Priska Garbin e del vicepresidente della relativa Consulta Bassamba Diaby in occasione della Giornata internazionale contro il razzismo che si celebra il 21 marzo.
Priska Garbin e Bassamba Diaby: "Il razzismo si manifesta non solo in forme apertamente ostili, ma anche in situazioni di difficoltà che emergono in tutti gli ambiti della vita". (Foto: Centro di tutela contro le discriminazioni)
In occasione della Giornata internazionale contro il razzismo, che si celebra il 21 marzo, si accendono i riflettori su una realtà che molte persone vivono ogni giorno, ma che spesso rimane invisibile. Lo sottolineano Priska Garbin, responsabile del Centro di tutela contro le discriminazioni, e Bassamba Diaby, vicepresidente della relativa Consulta, evidenziando che “il razzismo non è un fenomeno marginale, bensì un problema strutturale che plasma percorsi di vita, opportunità e sicurezza”.
La ricorrenza trae origine da un evento che scosse profondamente il mondo: il 21 marzo 1960, a Sharpeville, le forze di polizia sudafricane aprirono il fuoco su una manifestazione pacifica contro le leggi dell’apartheid, causando numerose vittime. Nel 1966, le Nazioni Unite istituirono in quella data la Giornata internazionale per l’eliminazione della discriminazione razziale.
L’aumento delle segnalazioni e delle richieste di sensibilizzazione mostra che nella popolazione cresce la consapevolezza del razzismo, così come il desiderio di cambiamento. “Il razzismo si manifesta non solo in forme apertamente ostili, ma anche in situazioni di difficoltà che emergono in tutti gli ambiti della vita: mercato immobiliare, mondo del lavoro, rapporti con le istituzioni e spazi pubblici”, spiegano Garbin e Diaby: “È qui che si rende visibile quanto profondamente i pregiudizi influenzino i processi quotidiani”.
Le persone nere emergono nel dibattito pubblico spesso solo quando si parla di criminalità: rimane invece invisibile la realtà della grande maggioranza che in Alto Adige sostiene ospedali, imprese, strutture di cura e famiglie. “Molte di queste persone”, dice ancora la responsabile del Centro Antidiscriminazioni, “assumono responsabilità, lavorano, assistono e contribuiscono ogni giorno alla nostra società, incontrando però ancora barriere strutturali”.
“La sicurezza è un diritto fondamentale”, sottolinea Garbin, “e comprende molto più della protezione dalla violenza: sicurezza significa anche accesso alla casa, pari opportunità nel mercato del lavoro, possibilità di muoversi liberamente senza essere giudicati da pregiudizi, riconoscimento e senso di appartenenza. Tutto ciò spetta a ogni persona”.
Quante persone siano pronte a impegnarsi per una società libera da discriminazioni lo ha mostrato recentemente la manifestazione contro la “remigrazione”: “Persone di tutte le età, professioni e provenienze hanno marciato fianco a fianco, inviando un chiaro segnale contro l’esclusione e a favore della solidarietà”, evidenziano Garbin e Diaby: “ L’ampia partecipazione dimostra che la maggioranza della popolazione respinge con decisione le narrazioni razziste e riconosce nella diversità e nella coesione valori fondamentali della nostra società”.
Il razzismo, però, non scompare da solo: va riconosciuto, nominato e contrastato con determinazione – nelle istituzioni, nelle strutture e nella vita quotidiana. “Una società in cui sicurezza, dignità e appartenenza siano garantite a tutte e tutti è un impegno comune, che possiamo realizzare soltanto insieme”, questo l’appello conclusivo della responsabile del Centro di tutela contro le discriminazioni Garbin.
Berlin: (hib/HAU) Das Bundesverkehrsministerium (BMV) steht der Einführung der persischen Sprache als zusätzliche Prüfungssprache für die theoretische Führerscheinprüfung grundsätzlich offen gegenüber. Wenn es ein dahingehendes klares Signal aus dem Parlament gäbe, das dafür ein Bedarf gesehen wird, „würden wir uns dem bestimmt nicht verschließen“, sagte der Parlamentarische Staatssekretär im BMV , Christian Hirte (CDU), am Montag vor dem Petitionsausschuss.
Aus Sicht des Petenten Yazdan Mehrdadmoghadam gibt es diesen Bedarf. Seine Petition, in der die Einführung der persischen Sprache als zusätzliche Prüfungssprache für die theoretische Führerscheinprüfung gefordert wird, hatte knapp 34.000 Unterstützerinnen und Unterstützer gefunden, wie er bei der Sitzung erwähnte. Zudem sei diese Forderung auch auf vielen Demonstrationen erhoben worden, sagte er.
Die Vorteile einer solchen Maßnahme „für Deutschland“ seien vielfältig, so der Petent. Verstünden Menschen die Inhalte einer Prüfung besser, könnten sie diese eher bestehen und stünden dem deutschen Arbeitsmarkt zur Verfügung - beispielsweise im Speditionsbereich, wo es einen Fachkräftemangel gebe. Das stärke auch die Integrationschancen, die durch eine Arbeit mit deutschen Kollegen stiegen.
Mehrdadmoghadam verwies zugleich auf das Thema Verkehrssicherheit. Um die Prüfung zu bestehen, müssten diejenigen, die nicht ausreichend gut Deutsch verstünden, die Antworten auf die Prüfungsfragen auswendig lernen, was vielfach passiere und auch zum Bestehen der Prüfung führe. Besser aber sei es, so der Petent, wenn die Prüflinge auch tatsächlich verstünden, um was es genau bei den Fragen geht.
Mehrdadmoghadam machte deutlich, dass es ihm nur um die theoretische Prüfung geht. Bei der praktischen Prüfung müsse man schon in der Lage sein, Anweisungen wie „nach rechts“, „nach links“ oder „geradeaus“ auf Deutsch zu verstehen, sagte er.
Führerscheinprüfungen in einer Fremdsprache würden in Deutschland „gut angenommen“, machte BMV-Staatssekretär Hirte deutlich. Ganz praktisch sehe das so aus, dass die Unterlagen zur Vorbereitung auf die theoretische Prüfung - wie auch die Fragen und Antworten zu Prüfung - vom BMV „durch amtliche Übersetzungen zur Verfügung gestellt werden“. Pro Jahr gebe es etwa 1,7 Millionen theoretische Fahrerlaubnisprüfungen in einer der zwölf bisher zugelassenen Fremdsprachen. Die meisten würden in Hoch-Arabisch, Englisch, Russisch und Türkisch absolviert. Zuletzt dazugekommen in den Katalog der Fremdsprachen sind seiner Aussage nach Ukrainisch und Komantschin, die am weitesten verbreitete kurdische Sprache. Zahlen, die einen Bedarf untermauern, auch die persische Sprache zuzulassen, gebe es derzeit noch nicht, sagte Hirte.
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.
Albania
