Migrant tragedies, one of many fundamental rights challenges that need tackling, finds FRA

Date of article: 25/06/2015

Daily News of: 25/06/2015

Country:  EUROPE

Author: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights

Article language: en

Record numbers of migrants died as they tried to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe in 2014. Member States should therefore consider offering more legal possibilities for people in need of international protection to enter the EU, as viable alternatives to risky irregular entry. This is one of the conclusions from this year’s Annual report which looks at developments across the EU in many areas over 2014.

Report: Fundamental rights: challenges and achievements in 2014 - Annual report >>

Online summary >>

“In 2014, a number of challenges to the respect of fundamental rights persisted, as FRA’s latest Annual report can testify. But there has also been progress,” says FRA interim Director Constantinos Manolopoulos. “The report’s evidence and conclusions can guide policy makers across the EU in their actions to better promote and protect fundamental rights. They can serve as a launch pad to help ensure that the policies and laws can better deliver fundamental rights in practice for everyone in the EU.”

As in past years, the FRA Annual report 2014 highlights challenges and achievements in many areas of fundamental rights from across the EU. For example:

  • The plight of migrants continued to worsen. Record number of migrants died in the Mediterranean; there was a fourfold increase in those rescued or apprehended at sea; the processing of migrants at the borders of some Member States worsened; and public discourse surrounding migrant integration continued to be a challenge. However, in 2014 new EU funding mechanisms were established to help Member States implement EU migration and asylum law, improve solidarity between Member States and help fight cross-border crime. Overall, the current migration situation in the EU points to the need for an over-arching EU-wide policy that addresses all aspects of migration from cause to effect. The recent European Agenda on Migration is an important step in this regard. 
  • The persisting challenges in reporting and recording hate crime. The results of FRA’s extensive survey on violence against women pointed to widespread abuse of women at home, work, in public and online throughout the EU. As with previous FRA surveys, for example on antisemitism and on discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, it also revealed general feelings of fear and high levels of under-reporting among victims. However, some Member States have made steps to better protect victims of crime by reviewing their laws and policies as the November 2015 transposition deadline of the EU Victims Directive comes closer. FRA’s Annnual report notes that Member States should adopt further measures to establish comprehensive victim support services, enable victims access such services, and train police officers and legal practitioners on victim support. 
  • Child protection continues to be under-resourced in many Member States, hindering efforts to better protect child rights in practice. Data show that child poverty and social exclusion rates remains high. At the same time, some Member States are improving the legal protection of child victims or children without parental care. However, as the FRA Annual report shows, Member States should improve coordination mechanisms and develop quality standards, as well as effective inspection and monitoring mechanisms to ensure services comply with the obligation to respect child rights. As in previous years, the Annual report also contains a specific focus section. This year it takes a close look at fundamental rights indicators, as a tool to enhance and gauge EU and national commitments to protecting rights.

To read the report, see: Fundamental rights: challenges and achievements in 2014 - Annual report.

For further information please contact: media@fra.europa.eu / Tel.: +43 1 580 30 642

Notes to editors:

  • The new-look 2014 Annual report provides concrete and comparative data on the fundamental rights situation on the ground in the 28 EU Member States. The report identifies key developments, promising practices, and challenges in equality and non-discrimination; racism, xenophobia and related intolerance; Roma integration; asylum, borders, immigration and integration; information society, privacy and data protection; the rights of the child; access to justice including rights of crime victims. Each chapter focuses on three key issues related to the chapter topic and ends with a list of FRA conclusions. Some of the conclusions and findings are also reflected for the first time in the EU Council’s conclusions on the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights that were adopted on 23 June. 
  • The report also has a focus chapter on ‘Mainstreaming fundamental rights: turning words into action’ and a chapter dedicated to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and how Member States use it. 
  • FRA is mandated to provide evidence-based advice to EU and national decision makers, thereby contributing to more informed and better targeted debates and policies on fundamental rights.

 

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Kräuter: „Kritische aber konstruktive Stimmen der Zivilgesellschaft zum NAP“

Date of article: 25/06/2015

Daily News of: 25/06/2015

Country:  Austria

Author: Austrian Ombudsman Board

Article language: de

Schon in seinem Einleitungsstatement betonte Kräuter die kritische Position der Volksanwaltschaft zum bisherigen Entwicklungsstand des Regierungsprojektes „Nationaler Aktionsplan Menschenrechte“. Kräuter: „Der Bericht der Volksanwaltschaft an das Parlament geht im Bereich der Missstandsfeststellungen und menschenrechtlich relevante Empfehlungen erheblich über den Themenkreis des Entwurfes zum NAP hinaus. Ich bin aber optimistisch, dass noch Verbesserungen und Erweiterungen in das Regierungsprojekt Eingang finden werden.“

Aus den zahlreichen Statements der Zivilgesellschaft wurden viele kritische Stimmen dokumentiert, dennoch wurde das Bemühen und das Engagement der anwesenden Koordinatoren Sektionschef Gerhard Hesse vom BKA und Botschafter Helmut Tichy vom BMEIA sowie der Ressortverterinnen und Ressortvertreter anerkannt.

Neben Plenardiskussionen wurden in 4 Workshops rund 40 Projekte mit spezifischen Themenstellungen von „Arbeit/Soziales/Wirtschaft/Internationales“, „Bildung/Kultur/Wissenschaft/Gesundheit“, „Gleichberechtigung/Rassismus“ bis hin zu „Rechtsschutz/Rechtsstaatlichkeit“ beleuchtet.

Eine ganze Reihe von Vorschlägen und Anregungen wurden eingebracht, die Workshops fanden in sehr konstruktiver und wertschätzender Atmosphäre statt. Kräuter:" Eine Zusammenfassung des NGO-Forums wird auf der Homepage der Volksanwaltschaft veröffentlicht. Die Festlegung der weiteren Schritte durch die NAP-Menschenrechte- Konsultationsgruppe unter Mitwirkung der NGOs ist geplant."

Die Volksanwaltschaft verstehe sich in diesem Prozess einerseits als „objektive Plattform“ für die Zivilgesellschaft, andererseits aber auch als kritische Instanz hinsichtlich der Ergebnisse des Nationalen Aktionsplans Menschenrechte, so Kräuter abschließend.

 

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VA Kräuter führte“ KUS“ durch die Volksanwaltschaft

Date of article: 24/06/2015

Daily News of: 25/06/2015

Country:  Austria

Author: Austrian Ombudsman Board

Article language: de

Herr Volksanwalt Dr. Günther Kräuter empfing die Gruppe im VA.TRIUM und informierte die interessierten Zuhörerinnen und Zuhörer über die Aufgaben der Volksanwaltschaft, welche nicht nur die Missstandskontrolle sondern auch den Schutz und die Förderung der Menschenrechte umfasst. Da die Besucher und Besucherinnen über berufliche Erfahrungen in der Arbeit mit Kindern und Jugendlichen verfügen, ging Herr Volksanwalt Dr. Kräuter auch auf das Thema Kinderrechte ein.

Sowohl Herr Volksanwalt Dr. Kräuter als auch die Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmer brachten praktische Bespiele aus ihrem Berufsalltag mit Kindern und Jugendlichen, woraus sich eine angeregte Diskussion ergab. Anschließend beantwortete Herr Volksanwalt Dr. Kräuter gerne die vielen Fragen, welche an ihn gestellt wurden.

Die Volksanwaltschaft ist ein offenes Haus und heißt alle Demokratie-Interessierten in ihrem VA.TRIUM herzlich willkommen - ob Schülerinnen und Schüler, Studierende, Lehrende oder Seniorinnen- und Seniorengruppen.

Im Rahmen des Besuches führen wir durch die Räumlichkeiten der Volksanwaltschaft und erzählen aus der täglichen Arbeit. Zur begleitenden, vertiefenden Thematisierung und Bearbeitung der Kinder- und Menschenrechte stellt die Volksanwaltschaft die Publikation "Junge Menschen und ihre Rechte" zur Verfügung. Das Buch richtet sich speziell an Jugendliche ab 15 Jahren und legt die Rechte junger Menschen anhand von Beispielen aus ihrem Leben dar.

Führungen sind möglich Dienstags bis Donnerstags zwischen 9.00 und 16.00 Uhr. Bei Interesse wenden Sie sich bitte an: besucherzentrum@volksanwaltschaft.gv.at oder 01/515 05-101

Wir freuen uns auf Ihren Besuch!

 

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Julie Mellor to stand aside as Chair as and when Public Services Ombudsman Bill receives royal assent

Date of article: 24/06/2015

Daily News of: 25/06/2015

Country:  United Kingdom

Author: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

Article language: en

It was announced today that Julie Mellor, Chair of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, will stand aside from her position as and when the Public Services Ombudsman Bill receives royal assent. Julie will continue to lead the Board and support the Executive in the radical transformation of our service over the next 18 to 24 months.

Since Julie Mellor joined the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman in 2012 she has been making the case to create a single Public Service Ombudsman covering all public services for England including health and social care and UK non-devolved services. The Bill to make this happen was announced in last month's Queen's speech.

On announcement of her decision Julie Mellor said:

'I believe this new ombudsman service will be better for the public, better for Parliament and better value for money. I want the new service to have the best possible chance of success and to achieve this it's vital that there is continuity in leadership during the transition to the new organisation.  That's why I have decided to stand aside as and when the Bill receives royal assent, enabling Parliament to make an appointment to the twin roles of Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and Chair elect of the new service.

'Creation of the new service is one of three things we set out to achieve three years ago. The second was to dramatically increase investigation volume to meet demand. Thanks to our staff and the Executive Team this has now been achieved with an increase from 400 to 5000 investigations and resolutions a year, giving more people final decisions on their unresolved complaint.

'Our third goal is to introduce a set of promises to our users about what they can expect from our service and a level of consistency and transparency about our investigation methods to give people greater confidence in our decisions whether we uphold their complaint or not. This is now our focus and my priority is to support the Executive and staff in delivering this ahead of transition to the new service.'

Notes to editors

  1. For more information please contact press office Steven Mather on 0300 061 4324 or email steven.mather@ombudsman.org.uk or contact senior press officer Marina Soteriou on 0300 061 4996 or email marina.soteriou@ombudsman.org.uk
  2. The timetable for the passage of the Public Service Ombudsman Bill is determined by Parliament.
  3. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman makes formal decisions on complaints which haven't been resolved locally by the NHS in England or by UK government departments and their agencies, such as the Department for Work and Pensions, the DVLA, the Passport Office and the Highways Agency.

 

Contact: Steven Mather

Phone: 0300 061 4324

 

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Ombudsman report suggests council complaints system under pressure

Date of article: 25/06/2015

Daily News of: 25/06/2015

Country:  United Kingdom - England

Author: Local Government Ombudsmen for England

Article language: en

The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) has warned that the complaints system in local government is under increasing pressure, in a new report.

The LGO’s Annual Review of Local Government Complaints suggests that many councils are dealing with increasing numbers of complaints and have less resource available to manage them due to resources being cut in complaint handling teams.

The warning is also backed by research that found that, on average, people spent nine months trying to resolve their complaint before coming to the LGO, and 43% of people were not told that they could approach the LGO for an independent review.

The report also releases the LGO’s data for the complaints it received in 2014/15. It registered 18,211 complaints and enquiries about councils, and upheld 46% of all complaints where it carried out a detailed investigation. Within its total number of complaints there was a 10% increase in adult social care complaints and an 11% decrease in complaints about benefits and tax.

The LGO also saw a small, but unprecedented, increase in the number of councils seeking to challenge its decision and failing to comply with recommendations to put something right for a complainant.

While councils ultimately have the democratic right to choose how to implement LGO recommendations, these few instances raise a question about how councils are held to account if they fail to comply with the recommendations of its ombudsman.

Local Government Ombudsman, Dr Jane Martin, said:

“Our findings point to a local complaints system that is under real pressure. Complaint handling teams are having to do ‘more with less’ and the process is not as accessible and timely as it should be.

“More investment into complaints, both in terms of resources and developing an open culture, is a good value way of driving service improvement – and local government needs to challenge itself on this question. Complaints must be seen as a positive. They can provide an early warning system for issues and are an indicator of public sentiment.

"We hope that by sharing our data and knowledge from complaints, we can help with this process by promoting local accountability for actions, and allowing better scrutiny of services.”

The LGO is the final stage for complaints about councils, and can carry out a fair and independent review of people’s complaints once the local authority’s complaints procedure has been concluded.

The LGO is clear that complaint numbers on their own can only form part of the picture of how the complaints process is performing, and other factors such as outcomes and how organisations have learned from complaints are also crucial. A higher volume of complaints, for example, does not necessarily mean poorer standards of service; it may indicate a council’s open approach to listening to feedback and using complaints as early indicator of potential issues.

Along with local councils, as the Social Care Ombudsman, the LGO has jurisdiction for private care providers, as well as some other organisations. Data for these is not included in this report.

 
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