Malgré les difficultés créées par l’épidémie du COVID-19, le Défenseur des droits continue à accomplir sa mission au service de toutes et de tous.

Les services centraux et le réseau territorial continuent à recevoir et à traiter les réclamations qu’ils reçoivent par voie postale, par messagerie et par téléphone. Par mesure de précaution, les délégués ne tiendront plus de permanence hebdomadaire jusqu’à nouvel ordre.

Les équipes du Défenseur des droits sont joignables en priorité par messagerie et par courrier.

L'accueil téléphonique reste assuré au 09 69 39 00 00 de 10h à 16h pour les réclamants qui n'ont pas d'autre possibilité de nous contacter.

Le Défenseur des droits veillera à ce que les mesures légitimes et inéluctables qui s’imposent à toutes et à tous, garantissent l’égalité de traitement à toutes les personnes quelle que soit leur situation et en particulier à celles qui, pour des raisons économiques, sociales ou juridiques sont les plus vulnérables.

On application of a body for social and legal protection of children (BSLPC), the court issued a preliminary injunction whereby it removed a child from his tutors and placed him in a diagnostic institution. The BSLPC failed to discuss the situation with the tutors forthwith after the decision was made, did not inform them of further steps, and failed to co-operate with them. Based on a mere notice from the Police of the Czech Republic, i.e. without a statutory basis (court decision), the diagnostic institution then prevented the tutors from contacting the child, did not communicate with them and did not provide them with sufficient information on the child. The BSLPC knowingly tolerated a long-term violation of the right to mutual contact between the child and his tutors.

According to Ombudsman’s view, the relationships between children and their tutors are protected by the right to family and private life provided that these relationships have actually attained the level of family ties. This must be respected by the competent body for social and legal protection of children in addressing the situation of the child in tutor’s care.

The BSLPC and the diagnostic institution eventually accepted all the measures the Defender proposed with a view to achieving a remedy. If contact is to be prohibited in the future, the diagnostic institution will strictly require a decision rendered by a court or a public prosecutor’s office. At the same time, it will support the least invasive interference with the child’s right to be in contact with persons responsible for his/her upbringing. If contact with the child needs to be restricted, the institution will continue providing these persons with information on the child unless this is prohibited by the court. It will properly record all its procedures.

Apparently, some teachers are giving private lessons.  They should desist immediately because it is extremely dangerous and poses grave problems to the healthcare system. This is not the time for private lessons. Parents should refrain from sending their children to such lessons.

The Greek Ombudsman, Mr. Andreas Pottakis, met on Thursday, 12th of March, with the Director of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), Mr. Michael O 'Flaherty, at the Authority's offices.

Additional Files

• Press Release: Meeting with the Director of FRA - 76 KB