Link: https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2020-11/cp200136en.pdf

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Court of Justice of the European Union

PRESS RELEASE No 136/2020

Luxembourg, 10 November 2020

Judgment in Case C-644/18 Commission v Italy

Italy has infringed EU law on ambient air quality The limit values applicable to concentrations of PM10 particulate matter were systematically and persistently exceeded between 2008 and 2017 In 2014, the European Commission launched an infringement procedure against the Italian Republic for having systematically and persistently exceeded, in a certain number of zones in Italy, the limit values for PM10 particulate matter laid down by the Air Quality Directive.1

The Commission maintained, first, that, since 2008, the Italian Republic had systematically and persistently exceeded, in the zones concerned, the daily and annual limit values applicable to concentrations of PM10 particulate matter, under Article 13(1) of, read in conjunction with Annex XI to, the Air Quality Directive. Secondly, the Commission complained that the Republic of Italy had failed to fulfil its obligation under Article 23(1), read in conjunction with Annex XV to, that directive, to adopt appropriate measures to ensure compliance with the limit values for PM10 particulate matter in all the zones concerned. 

The European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, invites nominations for the third biennial ‘Award for Good Administration’ in the EU institutions.

Nominations for the award – to be submitted by end January 2021 – can be made by EU staff, or by businesses, associations or civil society groups. The nominated work should have a visible and positive impact on the lives of EU citizens.

“The devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic remind us of the value of competent, transparent, and responsible public administration.”

“I look forward to once again receiving many excellent nominations for the award. It is more important than ever to recognise good administration when we see it,” said Ms O’Reilly.

The 2019 award attracted 54 nominations and saw prizes awarded in six categories. The overall award went to the European Commission for its initiative in plastics pollution reduction and awareness raising.

The award is open to staff in all EU institutions, agencies and bodies. Individuals, teams or units can be put forward as candidates, or may put themselves forward, along with concrete examples of good administration.

The nomination period opens on 12 November 2020 and closes on 31 January 2021. Submissions should relate to the period January 2019 - December 2020. Entries will be judged on the extent to which they reflect the core principles of good public administration. Categories for the award submissions include excellence in open administration; excellence in communications; and excellence in crisis management.

An advisory committee will draw up a short-list of the best nominees and the winners will be selected by the European Ombudsman. The award ceremony will take place in June 2021.

The rules of procedure and the submission form for the award are available on the European Ombudsman website.

Council of Europe Conference to mark the European Day against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children

Speech by Dunja Mijatović

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights

Strasbourg, 12 November 2020

Good afternoon to you all and thank you very much for the invitation to contribute to this important event!

The world we and our children live in is often described as over-sexualised. Children are exposed to sexualised images and messages from the media, advertisements and popular culture on a daily basis, in fact they are often themselves represented in a sexualised way. In this environment – as you just discussed – there is also a growing number of child self-generated sexual images and videos circulating, which presents a serious risk of abuse and exploitation.

So, why do we need comprehensive sexuality education? I believe that the need for that today is as urgent as it has ever been.

The right of children and young people to receive comprehensive sexuality education is well established in international human rights law. It derives from a range of protected rights, such as the right to live free from violence and discrimination, the right to the highest attainable standard of mental and physical health, the right to receive and impart information and the right to quality and inclusive education, including human rights education.

Comprehensive sexuality education means that it is about cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of sexuality. It goes beyond biology and reproduction and truly equips children with knowledge about their bodies and their rights, while also teaching them about gender equality, sexual orientations and gender identities. This is necessary for children to feel good about themselves and to develop safe and respectful social and sexual relationships throughout their lives.

There is strong evidence for the benefits of comprehensive sexuality education for children and young people. They include delayed sexual initiation, reduced risk-taking, increased use of contraception, and improved attitudes towards sexual and reproductive health. In addition, sexuality education helps children better protect themselves against violence, including sexual abuse and exploitation, and it equips them with skills to identify risks and protect themselves against sexual predators online. This has become particularly important during the current pandemic when children have been spending significantly more time online and, as we know, have become more vulnerable to online forms of sexual exploitation.

(...)

When:17 November 2020

European Parliament

External event

FRA will present findings from its annual overview on antisemitic incidents in the EU to the European Parliament Working Group on Antisemitism.

• DOWNLOAD ANNUAL OVERVIEW OF ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS 2009-2019

The working group brings together more than 80 MEPs from a range of parties, with the European Jewish Congress acting as the group's secretariat. The group meets on 17 November. 

Investiga las actuaciones de detección, prevención y coordinación ante el presunto maltrato
 
La normativa establece la obligación de los poderes públicos de adoptar todas las medidas necesarias para proteger a los niños de cualquier forma de maltrato
 
Ha pedido información a la DGAIA, al Servicio Catalán de la Salud y a los servicios sociales de Tàrrega para valorar la aplicación de los protocolos de coordinación existentes
 

El Síndic de Greuges ha tenido conocimiento a través de los medios de comunicación del ingreso en estado grave de un bebé de un mes de Tàrrega en el Hospital de Sant Joan de Deu de Barcelona y su posterior tutela de la DGAIA por presunto maltrato.

Según la noticia, los hechos sucedieron el pasado 5 de noviembre. El niño fue trasladado al Hospital Universitario Arnau de Vilanova de Lleida, y los profesionales que le atendieron alertaron a los Mossos. Debido a la gravedad de su estado, el bebé fue trasladado e ingresado en el Hospital Sant Joan de Deu de Barcelona.

El Síndic recuerda que la Convención de las Naciones Unidas sobre los derechos del niño establece la obligación de los estados de proteger al niño contra todas las formas de violencia física o mental mientras está bajo la guarda de sus padres, tutores legales o de cualquier otra persona que lo tenga a su cargo.

En Cataluña, la Ley 14/2010, sobre los derechos y las oportunidades en la infancia y la adolescencia, establece la obligación de los poderes públicos de adoptar todas las medidas necesarias para proteger a los niños y a los adolescentes de cualquier forma de maltrato. Esta ley también alude a la responsabilidad de los profesionales y de todos los ciudadanos para la protección de los niños ante los malos tratos y prevé la obligación de las diferentes administraciones de colaborar desde sus ámbitos de actuación.

Con el objetivo de supervisar la intervención de las diferentes administraciones implicadas (DGAIA, Servicio Catalán de la Salud y servicios sociales de Tàrrega) y valorar el funcionamiento de los protocolos de coordinación existentes, el Síndic ha abierto una actuación de oficio.

El Protocolo marco de actuaciones en casos de abusos sexuales y otros maltratos graves a menores, impulsado por el Síndic el año 2006 a raíz de las carencias detectadas en varios incidentes por malos tratos graves, se elaboró ​​con el objetivo de asegurar, ante las situaciones de maltrato infantil, una coordinación eficaz entre las diversas instituciones implicadas.