IOI Ombudsman News 02/2019

Date of article: 11/01/2019

Daily News of: 11/01/2019

Country:  WORLD

Author: International Ombudsman Institute

Article language: en




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National Preventive Group of the Ombudsman conducted visit to the Baku Investigation Facility

Date of article: 08/01/2019

Daily News of: 11/01/2019

Country:  Azerbaijan

Author: Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Article language: en

 

 

N4346/1-19, 08.01.2019

Members of the National Preventive Group (NPG) of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan conducted a visit to the Baku Investigation Facility of the Penitentiary Service under the Ministry of Justice. During the visit organized on the basis of the requirements of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Constitutional Law on the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, accused persons detained there were interviewed in private in order to investigate the detention conditions and issues related to the treatment, the state of ensuring their rights and appeals were investigated. Within the framework of the visit in which the head of NPG and the physician member participated, Mehman Huseynov detained in that facility was also received in a confidential manner, his appeal was heard, his state related to the food intake and health conditions were examined on site in his presence and with participation of the invited physician of the facility. As a result of the observation it was known that M. Huseynov consumed food, received parcels, he was under daily medical supervision and his health condition was normal. In framework of the visit the written appeal addressed to the Ombudsman by M. Huseynov was sent to the Prosecutor General’s Office for investigation. Press service

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Ombudsman welcomes scheme for clients who lost adoption fees

Date of article: 10/01/2019

Daily News of: 11/01/2019

Country:  Ireland

Author: National Ombudsman of Ireland

Article language: en

Ombudsman Peter Tyndall has welcomed the government’s decision to establish a scheme to repay clients who lost money following the closure of an adoption agency in 2015.

The scheme is being set up following extensive discussions between the Ombudsman, the Adoption Authority of Ireland, and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

The discussions followed a complaint to the Ombudsman from a couple who had paid Arc Adoption Ltd over €12,000 to adopt a child from Bulgaria.  The adoption was carried out under the Adoption Act 2010 and Arc Adoption limited was accredited by the Adoption Authority of Ireland.  The fee included a refundable registration fee of €2,750.  The couple never received the refund after they withdrew from the adoption process.  There were nearly 70 other clients who were similarly affected when the agency went into liquidation. 

The Ombudsman said:

“Adopting a child can be a difficult and stressful process for many couples. In 70 cases the process was made even more stressful when clients lost out on a refund of fees to which they were entitled.  I am pleased that the government and Minister Zappone has now agreed to establish this scheme and that the people affected will now receive what is due to them.”

The Ombudsman understands that those affected will be contacted and invited to apply to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs for payment.

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Brinek: "Ausschluss von Mindestsicherung darf keine Zusatzstrafe sein!"

Date of article: 10/01/2019

Daily News of: 11/01/2019

Country:  Austria

Author: Austrian Ombudsman Board

Article language: de

Nach dem Entwurf des neuen Sozialhilfe-Grundsatzgesetzes soll die Mindestsicherung für bedingt verurteilte Straftäter für die Dauer der nachgesehenen Freiheitsstrafe künftig gestrichen werden.

„Dies konterkariert Ziel und Zweck der bedingten Haftstrafe“, kritisiert die für Strafvollzug zuständige Volksanwältin Gertrude Brinek. „Aus gutem Grund wird vom Richter oft ein Teil der Freiheitsstrafe nachgesehen. Bei dem bedingten Strafrecht werden die Schuld, das Vorleben und die Lebensumstände des Täters bereits berücksichtigt. Völlig unverständlich ist, weshalb man diese Sanktion nun als eine Art Zusatzstrafe verhängt.“

Hinzu kommt, dass der Ausschluss vom Bezug der Mindestsicherung auch Jahre später eintreten kann, wenn die Strafe bereits getilgt ist und der Täter in eine finanzielle Notlage geraten sollte. „Mit dieser zusätzlichen Form der Bestrafung hängt ein Leben lang ein Damoklesschwert über dem Betroffenen“, so Brinek.

Warum man nur eine Gruppe, und zwar gerade jene der Mindestsicherungsbezieher, mit der Sanktion belegt, ist für Brinek nicht nachvollziehbar: „Dass die Streichung der Mindestsicherung der Resozialisierung nicht gerade förderlich ist, liegt auf der Hand. Wie soll sich jemand bewähren, wenn ich ihm dabei jegliche finanzielle Basis entziehe? Auch ein Sozialhilfe-Grundsatzgesetz sollte dem Leitprinzip folgen, dass finanzielle Hilfen sich am Bedarf orientieren – unabhängig davon, wie die Bedürftigkeit zustande kam“

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