The Parliamentary Ombudsman, Mr Anthony C Mifsud received the Council of Europe (CoE) Commissioner for Human Rights Mr Nils Muiznieks. The Commissioner was in Malta, for a two day visit, to monitor the human rights protection standards as part of Malta’s obligation as a CoE Member State. Such visits are aimed at providing Council of Europe Member States with guidelines to raise the standards of human rights protection, in accordance with his mandate.

The focus of the meeting with the Parliamentary Ombudsman was on the protection of the human rights of migrants, including their integration and women’s rights. The meeting also discussed the Ombudsman’s Human Rights mandate and the national public consultation on the human rights and equality framework.

The Commissioner for Human Rights was accompanied by Mr Matthieu Birker, Adviser to the Commissioner and Mr Nikolaos Sitaropoulos, Deputy of the Director of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights. The meeting was attended also by the Commissioner for Health, Mr Charles Messina, the Head of Investigations Dr Monica Borg Galea, Communications and Research Officer, Mr Jurgen Cassar, and Investigating Officer, Dr Danielle Mallia.

After visiting care institutions for children in Alytus and Utena, the advisers of the Seimas Ombudsmen‘s Office drew their attention to the lack of personal hygiene items at the care homes, application of unproportioned disciplinary measures as well as worn out children clothes and shoes.

The advisers of the Seimas Ombudsmen‘s Office also noted that not all the institutions have registration log of the events of a negative nature or not all cases of such events are registered.

„In Alytus and Moletai care institutions for children as well as Child Support Centre of Visaginas the reduction or complete withdrawal of pocket money is still applied as a disciplinary measure. Moreover, in care institution for children of Antazavė children from the age of ten have to use their pocket money to purchase personal hygiene items,“ highlights the report of the Seimas Ombudsmen.

The Seimas Ombudsman Augustinas Normantas notes that the procedure for the application of disciplinary measures lacks a time frame for the use of them and does not meet the requirements of proportionality in all the visited care institutions for children of Alytus and Utena regions.

The advisers have also noticed that children in Antazavė and „Spengla“ care institutions for children as well Child Support Centre of Visaginas are not individually provided with bedding, towels. Furthermore, a centralised purchase of personal hygiene items in many visited institutions does not always match children’s individual needs, and children do not have an opportunity to express their opinions.

„Some hygiene items (toothbrushes) in Moletai and Alytus care institutions for children were worn out,“ states the report of the Seimas Ombudsmen.

The advisers of the Seimas Ombudsmen‘s Office and the adviser of Institution of the Ombudsman for Children Rights, who also participated in the monitoring visit to Alytus, Moletai and Antazave care institutions for children as well as Child Support Centre of Visaginas, highlighted that not all children were provided with proper conditions for doing homework.

The specialists have also noted that the efforts of „Spengla“ care institution for children and care institutions for children in Alytus and Molėtai to solve the issues of preventing smoking, establishing the fact of smoking as well as providing assistance to children were not efficient enough.

The Seimas Ombudsman A. Normantas in his recommendations to the heads of visited care institutions for children also recommended drawing the attention to the fact that there is not enough social care employees for work with disabled children, children with mspecial needs or emotional and behavioural difficulties. Moreover, he obliged the heads to inform the Seimas Ombudsman on their achievements in solving the identified problems.

A Donegal woman finally got her home insulated under the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme after the intervention of Ombudsman Peter Tyndall’s office. 

The woman had received approval from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to have her cavity wall and attic insulated under the scheme.  The scheme funds energy efficiency improvements to the homes of vulnerable people.  The SEAI contracted the work to a local firm.  However, before the works were completed the contractor went out of business.

The woman contacted the SEAI for the work to be completed.  However the SEAI said that it had been told by the contractor that the woman’s house already had insulation.   It also referred to its ‘One Home Visit Policy’ soit believed there was no need to visit the woman’s home again.

The woman then contacted the Ombudsman.  After discussions with Peter Tyndall’s office the SEAI said it would promptly inspect the woman’s home.  When it confirmed that there was no cavity wall insulation the SEAI carried out the works to the attic and walls, and also provided the property with better ventilation.

Ombudsman Peter Tyndall said:

“We were glad to be of assistance in this case. I am pleased to say that the SEAI responded very quickly when the misunderstanding was brought to its attention.  I am delighted that the woman now has a warmer and more energy-efficient home to live in.”

If you wish to apply for the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme then contact the SEAI at  www.seai.ieor Lo-call 1850 376 666.