Bürgerbeauftragter Wolfgang Fackler, MdL: Bei der aktuellen Diskussion um ein Böllerverbot mit Augenmaß entscheiden!

Date of article: 09/01/2025

Daily News of: 14/01/2025

Country:  Germany - Bavaria

Author: Regional Ombudsman of Bavaria

Der Bürgerbeauftragte der Bayerischen Staatsregierung, Wolfgang Fackler, MdL, erinnert in der aktuellen Debatte um ein mögliches Böllerverbot daran, dass es bereits vom 2. Januar bis 30. Dezember ein generelles und striktes Böllerverbot in Deutschland gibt. „Dennoch ist klar, dass Exzesse, wie sie zum Jahreswechsel in Berlin zu erleben waren, untragbar sind. Wir sollten aber trotzdem einen Schritt zurücktreten und die Diskussion nicht in aufgeheizter Stimmung führen. Denn es ist nicht zielführend, immer gleich vom einen Extrem ins andere zu springen, sondern Maß und Mitte würden unserer Gesellschaft guttun!“

Der Beauftragte teilt mit: „Von einem pauschalen Verbot von privaten Feuerwerkskörpern aller Art halte ich nichts. Es ist wie so oft: Weil ein paar Unbelehrbare sich nicht an die Regeln halten, ist der erste Reflex der Ruf nach Verboten und härteren Strafen. Allerdings gelten für Körperverletzung und Sachbeschädigung auch heute schon die Regeln des Strafrechts. Es ist die Aufgabe des Staates, Recht und Gesetz entschieden und resolut durchzusetzen. Deswegen aber allen, die friedlich miteinander feiern und das neue Jahr mit einer beliebten Tradition willkommen heißen wollen, das Feuerwerk zu verbieten, halte ich für überzogen! Schließlich erfährt man von keinen derartigen Exzessen aus denjenigen Ländern, aus denen die

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Press Release | Ruling of the ECtHR on the issue of refoulement

Date of article: 08/01/2025

Daily News of: 14/01/2025

Country:  Greece

Author: Greek Ombudsman

In its decision A.R.E. v. Greece of 07.01.2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) makes extensive reference to a series of reports by the Greek Ombudsman on the issue of refoulement, as well as to its intervention on the same issue as a third, independent party, following an invitation by the Court.

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Press Release | Ruling of the ECtHR on the issue of refoulement

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Czech NPM contributes to global report on women in prison

Date of article: 13/01/2025

Daily News of: 14/01/2025

Country:  Czechia

Author: Czech Public Defender of Rights

The Public Defender of Rights as the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) of Czechia has joined NPMs from 45 other countries to contribute to the development of a global report on women in prison, launched today by the Geneva-based Association for the Prevention of Torture

This landmark report highlights significant challenges and systemic discrimination faced by women in prisons around the globe, calling for urgent reforms and greater use of alternatives to detention.

Drawing on data and analysis from National Preventive Mechanisms operating across Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America, the report provides the first global analysis of women in prison based on the findings of NPMs, independent oversight bodies with a mandate to prevent torture and ill-treatment in all places where people are deprived of liberty.

The Global Report on Women in Prison: Analysis from National Preventive Mechanisms reveals that women, who represent a small but growing percentage of the global prison population, are often subjected to systemic neglect and discrimination.

The report identifies several concerning themes affecting women in prison in the 46 countries reviewed, including:

  • Heightened risks of ill-treatment: Women face unique challenges in prison, such as humiliating and invasive body searches, inappropriate use of solitary confinement and restraints, with particularly severe impacts on pregnant women, LGBTIQ+ women, indigenous women and women with mental health conditions.
  • Neglect of gender-specific needs: Access to adequate healthcare, hygiene facilities and products, and mental health services often falls far short of international standards, exacerbating pre-existing vulnerabilities.
  • Intersectional discrimination: Foreign women, indigenous women, older women, LGBTIQ+ women, pregnant women and women from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds face specific – and sometimes greater – risks of abuse and discrimination.

Since the adoption in 2010 of the United Nations Bangkok Rules, which aim to address the needs of women in the criminal justice system, important progress has been made but much remains to be done to implement these standards in practice.

The report offers comprehensive recommendations to drive systemic change for women in prison, emphasising the crucial role of NPMs in driving reforms.

Key recommendations include:

  • Implementing gender-responsive alternatives to imprisonment for women, particularly for non-violent offenses.
  • Implementing alternatives to harmful or humiliating practices that can amount to ill-treatment, such as solitary confinement, use of restraints and body searches
  • Ensuring access to gender-specific healthcare and mental health support
  • Strengthening family contact through flexible visiting arrangements and communication options
  • Improving staff training on gender-sensitive approaches
  • Addressing the specific needs of women at heightened risk of ill-treatment, including pregnant women, LGBTIQ+ women, indigenous and foreign women.

The report also provides good practice examples from different countries.

The Global Report is accompanied by individual country reports prepared by NPMs and Local Preventive Mechanisms operating in the 46 countries.

The Global Report is supported by the Government of Canada and the City of Geneva.

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Summary Report on the Activities of the Commissioner for Human Rights in 2023

Date of article: 07/01/2025

Daily News of: 14/01/2025

Country:  Poland

Author: Polish Ombudsman

CHR Office published Summary Report on the Activities of the Commissioner for Human Rights in 2023.

"In the fight for human and civil rights, trust is of greatest importance. Social processes, due to their nature, pose numerous challenges and risks. It is therefore easier to tackle them if we trust each and the bodies established to defend our rights. In 2023, the number of applications for assistance submitted to the Commissioner for Human Rights (79 698) was the largest in history, which we noted with great satisfaction. For the CHR Office, it is an important confirmation that our relations with citizens are heading in the right direction and achieve increasingly better assessment. This trend is also reflected by the results of the CBOS periodic survey on public trust in state institutions" wrote Marcin Wiącek in the Summary.

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La Asociación Aragonesa para la Dependencia (ARADE) traslada a la Justicia de Aragón sus objetivos, actividades y reivindicaciones

Date of article: 10/01/2025

Daily News of: 14/01/2025

Country:  Spain - Aragon

Author: Regional Ombudsman of Aragón

Concepción Gimeno se ha interesado por la formación de los profesionales que trabajan en residencias y centros de mayores y ha expresado la necesidad de avanzar en su mejora continua y prestigio social

La Asociación Aragonesa para la Dependencia (ARADE) se constituyó en 2012 y representa a los directivos de 116 centros de personas mayores de todo Aragón que suman más de 8.000 plazas y 3.000 trabajadores.

Esta mañana, el presidente de la entidad, Santiago Cosculluela, y la gerente, Paquita Morata, han mantenido una reunión con la Justicia de Aragón, Concepción Gimeno, en la que le han transmitido sus objetivos, actividades y principales reivindicaciones.  Morata ha hecho hincapié en que que el fin último del servicio que prestan a sus asociados es mejorar en todo lo posible el bienestar de los usuarios.

ARADE defiende el modelo de servicio de Atención Centrada en las Personas (ACP) que tiene en cuenta su historia de vida con el fin de acompañar y prestar una mejor atención mejor.

Ante la Justicia de Aragón, han mostrado su preocupación por la falta de profesionales para cubrir los puestos de trabajo y han reclamado, un mayor esfuerzo de financiación de las administraciones para que el acceso a una plaza residencial sea más asequible, así como el reconocimiento de la sociedad al servicio que prestan.

Concepción Gimeno se ha interesado por la formación de los profesionales que trabajan en residencias y centros de mayores y ha expresado la necesidad de avanzar en su mejora continua y prestigio social.

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Link to the Ombudsman Daily News archives from 2002 to 20 October 2011