Public Defender's representatives visited 3 people detained on administrative charges during a protest rally held in Tbilisi on April 7.

Two of them reported alleged use of excessive force, verbal abuse and ill-treatment by the police.

The Public Defender's Office has appealed to the Special Investigation Service for further legal response. The Office will also respond legally to other violations of rights.

You can provide us with information about the violations of rights by calling our hotline - 1481.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman of Malta, Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon, is currently participating in an official conference in Rome commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Civic Defender of the Lazio Region.

Organised by Dott. Marino Fardelli, Civic Defender of Lazio and National Coordinator of Civic Defenders in Italy, the event is being held at the Regional Council headquarters outside Rome. It brings together institutional representatives, academics, and civil society leaders to reflect on the evolution of the Ombudsman institution and its role in promoting good governance and citizens’ rights.

Judge Zammit McKeon was invited as a keynote speaker and delivered an address entitled “Ombudsman Today: Challenges and Opportunities for Citizens’ Rights.” In his speech, he explored how Ombudsman institutions must evolve to meet new societal and technological challenges while remaining firmly rooted in their mission to uphold transparency, accountability, and justice in public administration.

Judge Zammit McKeon is also attending in his role as a member of the European Regional Board of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), underlining the importance of international cooperation among Ombudsman institutions.

Dott. Marino Fardelli opened the event by emphasising the importance of the Civic Defender’s mission:
“Celebrating 45 years of Civic Defence means recognising the value of an institution that works daily to ensure administrative justice and fairness. The Ombudsman is a vital safeguard for transparency and the protection of rights. We must strengthen its role, expand its competences, and make it more accessible to the people.”

Antonello Aurigemma, President of the Lazio Regional Council, highlighted the institution’s democratic role:
“The Civic Defender is a cornerstone of our democracy and a crucial service for the citizens of Lazio. The Regional Council is committed to ensuring that this institution continues to grow stronger and more effective in meeting the needs of our communities.”

The event includes thematic sessions dedicated to the future of civic oversight, offering a platform for dialogue between experts, public officials, and the public. The conference affirms the vital role of the Ombudsman in defending citizens’ rights and promoting a more open, responsive, and transparent public administration.

Read the Ombudman's speech

News and events of the Ombudsman’s Office in March 2025 (information in links mostly available in Latvian).

Ombudsman replies: Can a school not accept a child with mental or behavioural disorders?

Unwilling to take on additional difficulties, a school refuses admission to a child with mental disorders. Can it do so and to what extent is it justified? In this case, two different situations must be distinguished. The first, if the child has not yet been enrolled in the chosen school, then the refusal must be clearly and legally justified. Second, if the child is already enrolled in a particular school, it is not entitled to ask the parents to choose another school.

Marathon of Lectures on Elections

During the year of municipal elections, representatives of the Ombudsman’s Office will visit several schools all over Latvia in the ‘Ready for Life’ project to inform young people about the importance of elections in a democratic society, the citizen’s right and duty to vote, the possibility of choosing parties and other election-related issues.

Ombudsman replies: Can one work with seniors in a social care centre without speaking Latvian?

Is it allowed for an employee of a social care centre or nursing home to be unable to communicate with its residents in Latvian? In this case, the answer is clear and unambiguous: no, without knowledge of the official language, neither the state or local government, nor a private social care centre can work with clients.

Quality of municipal rental housing has improved over the last 10 years and the ‘housing queues’ have decreased

The Ombudsman has periodically assessed the availability and quality of free residential premises to be rented by local governments. In conclusion, the quality of such housing has improved significantly compared to a decade ago. On 1 March this year, 4 779 people were waiting in the ‘housing queues’.

Compensatory mess in restrictions on real estate rights – study reveals loopholes in regulatory framework

The legislation regarding restrictions on dealing with immovable property and compensation is not complete and orderly. It is fragmented, not aligned with all sectors involved, in many cases it lacks proportionality in setting criteria on restrictions and consistency in setting compensations. This is revealed by the study ‘Mapping real estate encumbrances and compensations’.

Artificial intelligence in universities: lack of digital skills and tools for a high-quality study process

Universities in Latvia lack digital skills to efficiently use the benefits of AI technologies. This is true for both teaching staff and students, and not just for regional universities. Economic inequality poses additional challenges: not all universities can afford to use the latest AI systems at a time when technologies are developing fast.

Sexual harassment or ‘NO = NO’

Sexual harassment is not only the result of individual misconduct or individual incidents: it is an expression of a broader cultural and institutional framework characterised by gender inequality, insufficient responsibility and, often, silence on the part of victims. The Ombudsman’s extensive research reflects not only the extent and specificity of sexual harassment problems in universities in Latvia, but also deeper structural problems affecting society in Latvia and Europe.

El Defensor del Pueblo, Ángel Gabilondo, ha comparecido este martes en el Congreso de los Diputados ante la Comisión Mixta Congreso-Senado de Relaciones con el Defensor del Pueblo, a petición de los grupos parlamentarios PP y Vox, tras ser requerido para hablar respectivamente de vivienda y ocupación, y de inmigración e inseguridad ciudadana.

En relación a la vivienda, Ángel Gabilondo ha explicado en su intervención que la mayoría de las quejas que recibe la institución tienen que ver con dificultades para acceder a una vivienda por los precios actuales de mercado, o a las largas esperas en los procesos de adjudicación de viviendas de protección pública.

El Defensor de Pueblo lleva años señalando en los informes anuales de la institución que “una causa clave de estos problemas es la insuficiencia del parque de vivienda pública protegida”. Y en este sentido, Ángel Gabilondo ha insistido en su exposición en “que es imprescindible un aumento significativo de la oferta de vivienda pública, preferentemente en alquiler, de modo que se dé una respuesta eficaz a las necesidades sociales existentes en este ámbito”.

El Defensor del Pueblo ha recordado que “la institución actúa, principalmente, través, de las quejas recibidas de los ciudadanos” y ha indicado que “en 2024 se recibieron una veintena de quejas relacionadas con ocupación de vivienda, frente a más de 200 que se registraron relativas a desahucios”.

Sobre asuntos migratorios, Ángel Gabilondo ha resumido algunas actuaciones realizadas en 2024 por la institución sobre, por ejemplo, las personas fallecidas o desaparecidas en el tránsito migratorio, o las relativas a dificultades para acceder a citas de protección internacional, o los problemas del sistema de acogida.

El Defensor del Pueblo subrayó, en relación con la inseguridad ciudadana, que “no es asunto sobre el que se reciba gran volumen de quejas. En 2024 se contabilizaron 32. Y puntualizó que “éstas no son necesariamente referidas a personas extranjeras”. Ángel Gabilondo resaltó que “la ciudadanía no identifica al Defensor del Pueblo como la instancia para dirimir las cuestiones de seguridad en sus barrios o domicilios, sino que si tiene algún problema de ese tipo acude directamente a las Fuerzas y Cuerpos de Seguridad del Estado”.

La adjunta primera, Teresa Jiménez-Becerril, y la adjunta segunda, Patricia Bárcena, han asistido a la comparecencia del Defensor del Pueblo.

Un evento istituzionale per ripercorrere la storia, il ruolo e le prospettive future del Difensore Civico nella tutela dei cittadini. Impegno, innovazione e futuro

Il Consiglio regionale del Lazio celebra il 45° anniversario della Difesa Civica con un evento istituzionale che ripercorre la storia e il ruolo fondamentale del Difensore Civico nella tutela dei diritti dei cittadini e nella promozione di un’amministrazione pubblica trasparente ed efficiente.

L’evento si terrà martedì 8 aprile 2025 nella sede del Consiglio regionale, presso la sala Mechelli, dalle ore 10:30 alle 13:00. Nel pomeriggio, i lavori riprenderanno alle ore 15:00 con due sessioni tematiche ospitate nelle sale Latini e Di Carlo.

Il simposio vedrà la partecipazione di autorevoli rappresentanti istituzionali, esponenti del mondo accademico e della società civile, come dettagliato nel programma allegato.

Marino Fardelli, Difensore Civico della Regione Lazio e Coordinatore dei Difensori Civici d’Italia, ha sottolineato il significato della ricorrenza:

“Celebrare 45 anni di Difesa Civica significa riconoscere il valore di un’istituzione che ogni giorno lavora per garantire giustizia amministrativa ed equità. Il Difensore Civico è un presidio essenziale di trasparenza e tutela dei diritti, che deve essere ulteriormente valorizzato. Guardiamo al futuro con l’impegno di rafforzarne il ruolo, ampliarne le competenze e renderlo ancora più accessibile ai cittadini.”

Anche il Presidente del Consiglio regionale del Lazio, Antonello Aurigemma, ha ribadito l’importanza dell’iniziativa:

“La Difesa Civica è un pilastro della nostra democrazia e un servizio essenziale per i cittadini del Lazio. Il Consiglio regionale è impegnato a sostenere e potenziare questa istituzione affinché possa rispondere con sempre maggiore efficacia alle esigenze della comunità. Questo anniversario rappresenta un’occasione di riflessione sui traguardi raggiunti e sulle sfide future.”

La celebrazione offrirà un’importante occasione di confronto tra esperti del settore, rappresentanti istituzionali e cittadini, con l’obiettivo di rafforzare il ruolo del Difensore Civico e promuovere una cultura della legalità e della trasparenza amministrativa. Durante la giornata saranno presentati dati, testimonianze e prospettive di sviluppo per rendere la Difesa Civica ancora più vicina ai bisogni della collettività.