„Lassen Sie uns am Zero Discrimination Day und darüber hinaus gemeinsam daran arbeiten, eine Welt zu schaffen, in der jeder Mensch respektiert und geschätzt wird“, so die Verantwortliche der Antidiskriminierungsstelle, Priska Garbin. Sensibilisierungskampagne in sozialen Medien und lokalen Zügen.

“Lavoriamo insieme, non solo nello Zero discrimination day, per creare un mondo in cui ogni persona sia rispettata e valorizzata”, così la responsabile del Centro di tutela contro le discriminazioni Priska Garbin. Campagna di sensibilizzazione su social media e treni locali.

El Comité Europeo de Derechos Sociales ha dado a conocer su decisión relativa a la situación de las personas residentes en la Cañada Real Galiana de Madrid. En su decisión, el Comité declara que, las autoridades españolas, al permitir una situación en la que, durante un periodo prolongado de tiempo, las personas han tenido un acceso intermitente a la energía, o ningún acceso en absoluto, han abocado a esas personas a la pobreza energética, violando así varias disposiciones de la Carta Social Europea.

En un hecho novedoso, el Comité ha examinado detenidamente la relación entre los derechos humanos y el acceso a la energía. La decisión determina que el «acceso estable, constante y seguro a una energía adecuada» es un requisito previo y un elemento clave para el disfrute de los derechos a la vivienda (artículos 31.1 y 16), la salud (artículos 11.1 y 11.3), la educación (artículo 17.2) y la protección contra la pobreza y la exclusión social (artículos 30, 23 y 15.3), entre otros, en virtud de la Carta Social Europea. Para ser «adecuada» a efectos de la Carta, la energía debe ser asequible, limpia y sostenible. Desde la perspectiva procesal, cabe señalar, también, la participación de la Defensoría del Pueblo de España en el procedimiento seguido ante el Comité, al aportar sus observaciones como tercera parte en el litigio. 

Esta decisión tiene su origen en la demanda colectiva presentada, en 2022, por cinco organizaciones sociales, tanto de España como de nivel europeo. La demanda alegaba que la situación creada por los cortes del suministro eléctricos en la vida de al menos 4.500 habitantes, entre ellos unos 1.800 niños, de la Cañada Real, constituía una violación de varias disposiciones de la Carta Social Europea. 

En todo caso, no es la primera vez que el Comité Europeo de Derechos Sociales se pronuncia sobre este asunto, ya que, esta misma demanda logró que, en octubre de 2022, el Comité indicara “medidas inmediatas” instando a España a restablecer de inmediato el suministro eléctrico para evitar un daño grave e irreparable a la integridad las personas que viven en dicho barrio de Madrid (ver nota publicada por el Ararteko a este respecto). 

The Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman is proposing to investigate the actions of the region’s largest social housing landlord, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

The investigation into social housing conditions would be the third to take place under the Ombudsman’s ‘own initiative’ power, which allows for an investigation to take place where she has a reasonable suspicion of systemic maladministration.

Ombudsman Margaret Kelly has written to the Housing Executive to propose her investigation after noting an increasing number of enquiries and complaints about housing to her Office. A significant proportion relate to concerns about maintenance and repairs, including reported delays in carrying out repair requests, the quality of the work undertaken and how the concerns of social housing tenants are responded to when issues are raised, including how complaints are handled.

The proposed investigation will also consider how the Housing Executive delivers adaptations to its homes to meet the needs of individuals with vulnerabilities, and what actions it takes to ensure the conditions of properties used for temporary accommodation are appropriate. In deciding to take this action, the Ombudsman also reflected on the extent to which individuals reaching out to her Office have referred to housing issues having an adverse impact on their health.

Ms Kelly said:
‘Access to high quality and safe housing is important in reducing health inequalities and improving the overall wellbeing of our population. A good maintenance and repairs service is one of the most important responsibilities landlords have. It is important there is confidence in how the Housing Executive delivers this service and responds when concerns are raised about housing conditions.’

Ms Kelly stated her proposed investigation would allow for a thorough examination of these important issues, with the aim of making further improvements in social housing provision.

The Ombudsman, having sent her investigation proposal to the Housing Executive, will consider carefully any response before deciding whether to proceed to investigate and finalise the issues that fall within the scope of her investigation. The Ombudsman will make a further announcement upon launching an investigation.

On February 26, 2025, Levan Ioseliani, Public Defender of Georgia, and Tamar Gvaramadze, First Deputy Public Defender of Georgia, met with Urs Daniel Engels, Head of the Division for Ukraine, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia at the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

The mandate of the Public Defender's Office and the challenges relating to the protection of human rights were discussed at the meeting. In addition, the issues relating to the supervision of the protests ongoing in the country and the activities of the Office in this direction were highlighted.