More than 260 NHRI representatives from around the globe met from 10 to 12 October in Marrakech, Morocco, to explore the roles and contributions NHRIs can have in expanding civic space and promoting and protecting human rights defenders, with a particular attention to women human rights defenders.

La delegación de la Agencia Tributaria en Las Palmas alega que solo las madres pueden beneficiarse de la rebaja fiscal. Uno de los padres ha denunciado ante el Diputado del Común la discriminación a la que se ve sometido. Ya ha ganado en los tribunales la prestación por nacimiento y tiene reclamado el descuento.

The National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH) requests the Secretariats of the Interior (SEGOB), and Finance and Public Credit (SHCP) to implement measures to avoid the disprotection, motivated by the lack of resources, of 727 beneficiaries secured by the Mechanism for the Protection of Rights Defenders Humans and Journalists (MPPDDHP).

The Ombudsman of Hong Kong, Ms Connie Lau, held a press conference on 18 October 2018 to announce the results of a direct investigation report on “Housing Department’s arrangement for using idle spaces in public housing estates” and a full investigation report on “Transport Department’s improper arrangement for implementation of 2-way toll collection at the Lantau Link”, that caused serious traffic congestion.

Tabling her investigation into the imprisonment of a woman found unfit to stand trial in the Victorian Parliament today, Ms Glass found the woman’s treatment breached Victoria’s human rights laws and international standards on the rights of people with disabilities. Ms Glass said: “we need to ask ourselves how a humane society can justify such treatment”.

The Office of the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman (NIPSO) published the October edition of its quarterly bulletin. The bulletin contains news of the upcoming conference on own initiative investigations to be held in Belfast next week, a link to NIPSO’s new animated video for members of the public and a selection of the Office’s latest investigation reports.

On the 6-7 October a special training regarding functions of the Human Rights Defender in fight against domestic violence was organized with the participation of international and local experts.

La Cámara Nacional de Apelaciones en lo Criminal y Correccional revocó un fallo de primera instancia que no hizo lugar a la acción de habeas corpus por el traslado arbitrario de un detenido.

IOI Secretary General Günther Kräuter welcomes Chinese law professors. On October 17th, the renowned Chinese Professor and lawyer Xigen Wang visited the headquarters of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) and the Austrian Ombudsman Board.

The Greek Ombudsman released a special report on return of third country nationals. While improvements in applying means of restraint in the return and readmission to Turkey procedures were noted, other problems remain.

In a report released on October 10, 2018, the Québec Ombudsman looked into Tribunal administratif du Québec (TAQ) recourse for people kept in a health institution against their will. The investigation revealed that overly long wait times for contesting confinement jeopardize access to such recourse. 

In the interest of maintaining legal certainty, Ombudsman for future generations Gyula Bándi requests the Government and the Parliament to take immediate measures to reasonably extend the deadlines for the penalty-free approval of wells drilled without a permit.