Statement by the International Ombudsman Institute’s European President, Dr Andreas Pottakis, in relation to breaches of the Venice Principles and the UN General Assembly Resolution on National Ombudsman Schemes

Additional Files

• 1. Statement of IOI Europe - 718 KB
  • 2. Opinion of the Venice Commission - 378 KB

To mark its 50^th Anniversary, the State Comptroller and Ombudsman of Israel, under the auspices of the IOI and the AOM, invite you to participate in an international online conference on the theme: Advancing the Rights of Older People in an Age of Longevity.

Medical and biotechnological progress has led to a breakthrough in the field of public health, both on the individual and communal level. This poses new and fascinating challenges for society, such as an increase in the percentage of older people in modern society and in life expectancy. Issues dealing with improvement in the quality of life of older people and the study of aging (gerontology) occupy government authorities across the globe.

The international online conference will discuss the unique challenges facing ombuds institutions throughout the world pertaining to upholding and advancing the rights of older people.

The conference will be conducted in English, with simultaneous interpretation into French, Spanish and Arabic. Click here to register for the conference.

We look forward to your joining us for this special event, in celebration of the Israel Ombudsman's Jubilee year.

Probleme bei Hartz IV, wie zum Beispiel mit der Übernahme der Kosten für Miete oder Heizung, mit der Hilfe zum Lebensunterhalt, dem Wohngeld oder auch mit Leistungen der Krankenkassen oder Schwierigkeiten beim Kindergeld – die Bürgerbeauftragte für soziale Angelegenheiten des Landes Schleswig-Holstein, Samiah El Samadoni, hilft bei allen Fragen rund um das Sozialrecht. Darüber hinaus berät die Bürgerbeauftragte auch als Leiterin der Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Landes und als Ombudsperson in der Kinder- und Jugendhilfe im Rahmen dieser Sprechstunde. Zudem ist die Bürgerbeauftragte auch Beauftragte für die Landespolizei und damit Ansprechpartnerin für Beschwerden von Bürger*innen und Eingaben von Polizist*innen.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman, Mr Anthony C. Mifsud has met the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) who were in Malta carrying out a fact-finding visit ahead of the preparation of the periodic review report on the honouring of membership obligations to the Council of Europe. The mission discussed the reform of democratic institutions and constitutional reform, the rule of law and judicial reform, the fight against corruption, media environment in Malta, the situation of migrants and refugee and the conclusions of the public enquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Erik Nymansson started his position as Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman on October 1, 2021. His previous employment was at the Supreme Administrative Court where he has been appointed Justice since 2010. Prior to that he held the position of Head of the Administrative and Legal Department at the Ministry of Finance. Erik Nymansson has also been a Special Inquiry Investigator in several governmental investigations and a member of the Judges Proposal Board. 

Area of responsibility

• Administrative courts.

• The Armed Forces and other cases pertaining to the Ministry of Defence and its subordinate agencies which do not fall within other areas of responsibility; the National Fortifications Agency, the Coast Guard, the Civil Contingencies Agency.

• Health and medical care as well as dental care and pharmaceuticals; forensic medicine agencies, forensic psychology agencies; protection from infection.

• The school system (including pre-school activities and school welfare); higher education (including the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, not including the Police Academy); student finance; The Swedish National Board for Youth Affairs; other cases pertaining to the Ministry of Education and agencies subordinate to it which do not fall within other areas of responsibility.
• Income and property tax, Value Added tax, fiscal control, with the exception, however, of the Taxation Authorities Criminal Investigation Units as laid down in the Act on The Taxation Authority's Crime Fighting Activities; Tax collection.
• Excise duties and price-regulating fees, road tax and congestion charges; service charges; national registration (including cases concerning names); other cases pertaining to the Ministry of Finance and its subordinate agencies which do not fall within other areas of responsibility.
• Public procurement; the implementation of the system of choice in the public sector, consumer protection, marketing, price and competition within industry and commerce; cases concerning limited companies and partnerships, trade names, trade registers, patents, trademarks, registered designs; other cases pertaining to agencies subordinate to the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation which do not fall within other areas of responsibility. The Agency for Public Management; the National Financial Management Authority; the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency, the National Appeals Board, the National Claims Adjustment Board; the Swedish Agency for Government Employers, the Arbitration Board on Certain Social Security Issues; the National Property Board; the National Government Employee Pensions Board, the National Pensions and Group Life Insurance Board; the Financial Supervisory Authority, the Accounting Standards Board, Supervisory Board of Public Accountants, The Swedish Estate Agents Inspectorate; the National Institute of Economic Research; Statistics Sweden; the National Disciplinary Offense Board. The Equality Ombudsman; the Board against Discrimination, the Swedish Gender Equality Agency, The National Electrical Safety Board, the Swedish Energy Markets Inspectorate, the Swedish Energy Agency, Svenska Kraftnät.
• Cases that do not fall within the ambit of the Parliamentary Ombudsmen; documents containing unspecified complaints.
• The OPCAT unit.