The Public Defender’s Special Report on the Monitoring of Social Housing, Shelters and Similar Institutions of Georgia assesses the actual situation in social housing and shelters in the light of national and international human rights standards.

The report is based on monitoring conducted in 2025 and includes an assessment of 18 social housing facilities, similar institutions and shelters located in 12 municipalities. Within the framework of the report, the institutions were assessed according to the following criteria: safety, suitability, sanitary and hygienic conditions, protection from climatic conditions, sufficiency of living space, access to basic services, service management and legal guarantees for beneficiaries.

The document emphasizes that Georgia still lacks a unified legal and standardized framework for the arrangement of social housing and shelters, which significantly hinders the effective realization of the right to adequate housing.

As a result of the monitoring, a number of serious challenges were identified in the housing sector. Among them, people's long-term living in buildings that pose a threat to health and life, serious violations of sanitary and hygienic norms, iving environment unprotected from climatic conditions, shortage of living space, absence of services or management, etc.

Along with the above-mentioned challenges, the report presents positive examples where the conditions of social housing and shelters generally comply with international standards of adequate housing.

The report provides recommendations to central and local authorities. The report and the recommendations issued will assist the addressees in identifying the problems existing in social housing, shelters and similar institutions in Georgia, finding ways to eliminate them, and addressing the fundamental challenges related to the right to adequate housing.

On 12 and 13 January, a meeting of the European Network of Ombudsmen (ENO) took place in Málaga, Spain. The event was co-organised by the Andalusian Ombudsman and the European Ombudsman. The Human Rights Ombudsman was represented at the meeting by Deputy Ombudsman Miha Horvat and Deputy Ombudsman Dr Dijana Možina Zupanc.

The meeting was opened with addresses by senior representatives of European and host institutions: European Ombudsman Teresa Anjinho, Spanish Ombudsman Ángel Gabilondo, Acting Ombudsman of Andalusia Jesús Maeztu, and the Mayor of Málaga, Francisco de la Torre. In their speeches, they underlined the importance of cooperation within the European Network of Ombudsmen as a key mechanism for strengthening the protection of human rights and for jointly addressing cross-border and systemic challenges within the European Union.

A key element of the programme was the Ideas Fair, which featured parallel discussions on topics including environmental protection, social security for mobile EU citizens, border asylum procedures, the use of EU funds for deinstitutionalization, and food security. Given that these issues often transcend national borders in terms of their scope, complexity, and impact, participants highlighted that the coordinated involvement of two or more national or regional ombudsman institutions may be particularly appropriate in order to achieve greater effectiveness.

A Deputy Ombudsman Dr Dijana Možina Zupanc presented to participants the idea of addressing cross-border environmental issues from a human rights perspective. She stressed that pollution and its consequences do not stop at national borders, nor do the effects of climate change, which are increasingly interfering with people’s rights to health, safety, and a dignified life. She underlined that as climate-related risks intensify, so too must the responsibility of states to take timely action, ensure transparent public information, and engage in effective cross-border cooperation. Drawing on practical examples from the Adriatic region, she demonstrated how coordinated and parallel approaches can lead to stronger joint recommendations and send a clear message: human rights must not remain unprotected simply because the consequences of environmental and climate crises extend beyond national boundaries.

As part of the expert programme, introductory and concluding lectures were delivered by Prof. Dr Mariolina Eliantonio of Maastricht University and Prof. Dr Joana Mendes of the University of Luxembourg. They highlighted the importance of EU composite administrative procedures and effective legal remedies, as well as the role of EU law within national legal systems, particularly in relation to the protection of fundamental rights.

Participants also heard presentations on projects marking the 30th anniversary of the European Network of Ombudsmen, including the Code of Conduct for Ombudsman Institutions in a Period of Accelerated Innovation and the ENO report to the European Parliament. This was followed by reflections on the Network’s contribution to the development of EU legislation. The ENOPEDIA project was also presented—a digital platform designed to compile ombudsmen’s recommendations, decisions, and inquiries relating to EU law.

Im Zuge des Breitbandausbaus versprach die steirische Gemeinde Selzthal allen Haushalten einen Glasfaseranschluss. Nun wurden die Leitungen verlegt, doch nicht bis zum Grundstück von Herrn R., der sich aufgrund dieser Ungleichbehandlung an die Volksanwaltschaft wendete. In der ORF Sendung Bürgeranwalt vom 10.1.2026 betonte Volksanwältin Gaby Schwarz: „Wenn die Gemeinde allen Haushalten einen Glasfaseranschluss verspricht, muss sie das auch halten. Also zurück an den Start!“

Als „absurd und nicht nachvollziehbar“ bezeichnet die Volksanwältin zudem die Begründungen seitens der Gemeinde: „Zuerst wurde behauptet, es handelt sich um eine Privatstraße. Das ist nicht der Fall. Es ist eine öffentliche Gemeindestraße. Schließlich argumentierte die Gemeinde, dass der gesamte Asphalt für die Leitungslegung erneuert werden müsste, was die Kosten sprengen würde. Für mich sind das fragwürdige Ausreden, zumal es in der Nebenstraße sehr wohl möglich war für die Verlegung nur den Bankettstreifen aufzugraben und nicht die gesamte Straße. Es geht nur um 50 Meter, die bis zum Grundstück von Herrn R. ausgebaut werden müssten. Ich appelliere an die Gemeinde und die Ausbaugesellschaft, diesen Fall neu zu prüfen und einzuhalten, was versprochen wurde.“

Kritik an fragwürdigen Umwidmungen geht weiter

Seit sieben Jahren befasst sich die Volksanwaltschaft mit der Beschwerde einer Anrainerin im oberösterreichischen Offenhausen. Denn hinter ihrem Grundstück wurde unter fragwürdigen Bedingungen ein Holzbetrieb auf ehemaligem Grünland gebaut. Einige Bauten entsprachen nicht dem geltenden Flächenwidmungsplan. Die Volksanwaltschaft kritisierte, dass rechtswidrig errichtete Bauten durch nachträgliche Umwidmungen legalisiert wurden.

Nun informierte Volksanwältin Gaby Schwarz über den Status quo: „Ende 2025 bestätigte das Amt der Landesregierung die Kritik der Volksanwaltschaft. Daraufhin erstellte die Marktgemeinde einen neuen Flächenwidmungsplanentwurf, der von der Aufsichtsbehörde allerdings untersagt wurde. Die Marktgemeinde erhob Beschwerde gegen diesen Bescheid beim Landesverwaltungsgericht. Das Ergebnis ist abzuwarten. Wir bleiben an der Sache dran.“

A meeting of liaison officers of the European Network of Ombudsmen is being held in Malaga on 12 and 13 January 2026. The meeting is co organised by the Andalusian Ombudsman and the European Ombudsman.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman of Malta, Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon, is invited to address a session on the conclusions of the workshop on environmental complaints held during the ENO conference in Brussels in November 2025.

The opening of the two day meeting took place at Malaga City Town Hall, Salón de los Espejos. Welcome addresses were delivered by Francisco de la Torre, Mayor of Malaga, Jesús Maeztu, Acting Andalusian Ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo, Ombudsman of Spain, and Teresa Anjinho, European Ombudswoman.

In his address, the Mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre underlined that transparency and honesty in governance are fundamental to the work of ombudsman institutions. Drawing on his experience as mayor, he stressed the importance of education and an informed public in strengthening democratic life and welcomed delegates to Malaga for two days of discussion in the public interest.

The Acting Andalusian Ombudsman, Jesús Maeztu highlighted the role of ombudsman institutions in protecting rights, particularly those of vulnerable persons, before problems become entrenched. He emphasised social justice and independence as core values and described the meeting as a contribution to strengthening democracy.

The Ombudsman of Spain, Ángel Gabilondo focused on the importance of coordination and cooperation within the Network. He underlined the value of dialogue and shared experience in understanding the context in which ombudsmen operate and called for decisive and fearless action in the defence of rights.

The European Ombudswoman, Teresa Anjinho noted that Malaga’s tradition of bringing people together reflects the role of the ombudsman as a bridge between the public and institutions. She referred to emerging challenges in 2026 and stressed the need to translate discussions within the Network into concrete action to protect people’s rights and promote good administration.

The meeting continued with its first working session held at the Centre Pompidou. The session opened with a presentation by Prof Dr Mariolina Eliantonio of Maastricht University on access to justice in composite procedures related to the implementation of EU rule of law requirements.

Discussions focused on possible parallel investigations by ombudsman institutions. These included regional inquiries into environmental law, cooperation on social security issues affecting EU mobile citizens, and existing forms of collaboration among Scandinavian ombudsmen.

Participants also explored potential parallel inquiries involving the European Ombudsman and national or regional ombudsmen. Topics discussed include fundamental rights monitoring in border procedures under EU asylum legislation, redress mechanisms in the application of EU law, the use of EU funds in relation to the rights of persons with disabilities, compliance with the right to good administration under Article 41 of the EU Charter, data sharing within the Schengen Information System, food safety oversight, accountability in asylum interviews, and the protection of the right to a healthy environment.

El Defensor del Pueblo, Ángel Gabilondo, ha intervenido este lunes en Málaga en la inauguración de la reunión de funcionarios de enlace de la Red Europea de Defensores del Pueblo (ENO). En la inauguración del encuentro han participado la Defensora del Pueblo de Europa, Teresa Anjinho; el Defensor del Pueblo Andaluz, Jesús Maetzu, y el alcalde del Ayuntamiento de Málaga, Francisco de la Torre.

Ángel Gabilondo ha asegurado, durante su intervención, que esta reunión “es un acierto en un momento decisivo para la Unión Europea y para quienes tenemos la responsabilidad de proteger los derechos fundamentales”. En su opinión, este encuentro “no es solo un foro de intercambio institucional de buenas prácticas y cooperación, es hoy más que nunca una oportunidad para analizar con lucidez el complejo contexto en el que trabajamos”. El Defensor del Pueblo ha querido, además, remarcar que esta reunión revela “un modo de trabajo, el respeto a los acuerdos y a los consensos, la fuerza del diálogo y la necesidad de participación”.

Ángel Gabilondo ha destacado que “hoy más que nunca tienen sentido estas reuniones de defensores de distintos países europeos, convencidos de que solo mediante una pluralidad de voces puede conformarse una palabra compartida que no excluya a los demás”.

Las jornadas inauguradas esta mañana se prolongarán durante dos días en los que los funcionarios y las funcionarias de la Red Europea de Defensores del Pueblo realizarán un seguimiento de los puntos clave abordados en los talleres de la conferencia ENO de 2025, y debatirán sobre futuros proyectos para celebrar el 30 aniversario de la Red. Buscarán, además, nuevas vías para coordinar esfuerzos entre defensores, compartirán buenas prácticas y abordarán desafíos transfronterizos.