La Adjuntía de Igualdad y Violencia de Género de la Diputación del Común elaboró un informe extraordinario sobre el cumplimiento de representación equilibrada entre hombres y mujeres en las administraciones públicas de Canarias

El Diputado del Común presentó en el Parlamento de Canarias los resultados de este estudio, que posiciona a los ayuntamientos de las islas como los organismos públicos con mayor representación equilibrada

El Diputado del Común, Rafael Yanes, presentó en el Parlamento de Canarias el “Informe Extraordinario sobre el grado de cumplimiento del principio de representación equilibrada en la Administración Pública de Canarias”, elaborado por la Adjuntía de Igualdad entre Mujeres y Hombres y Violencia de Género de la Diputación del Común, a través de una investigación de oficio en la que se analizó la presencia equilibrada entre hombres y mujeres en los consejos de administración de las empresas públicas, y en los órganos directivos y colegiados de las diferentes administraciones públicas de la Comunidad Autónoma.

Dada la participación de todos los ayuntamientos, cabildos y distintas consejerías del Gobierno de Canarias en este estudio, los resultados son considerados estadísticamente representativos y, por tanto, permiten disponer de un diagnóstico descriptivo fiable del panorama autonómico.

Los datos expuestos en este informe alertan sobre el incumplimiento del principio de representación equilibrada de la Ley 1/2010, de 26 de febrero, canaria de igualdad entre mujeres y hombres, y evidencian que no existe una participación equitativa en los espacios de poder de la Administración Pública de Canarias.

“Las cifras arrojadas confirman lo que ya había comprobado a lo largo de mi carrera profesional, y es que no existe una igualdad en la representación equilibrada en las administraciones públicas de Canarias . A través de este trabajo exhaustivo y detallado en el que llevamos trabajando durante, aproximadamente, un año y medio, hemos constatado que la igualdad real no existe en el sector público, ya que la mujer está infrarrepresentada”, afirmó la adjunta de Igualdad y Violencia de Género de la Diputación del Común, Beatriz Barrera.

De esta forma, en la composición de los órganos colegiados de la Administración no hay una participación equitativa en un 34,48% de ellos, ya que de los 380 organismos existentes (199 del Gobierno de Canarias, 83 de los cabildos y 98 de los ayuntamientos), incumplen 131; y el 76,34% de las entidades públicas que incumplen, lo hacen en base a una mayor representación de hombres en sus órganos de dirección.

El exceso en el número de hombres en los organismos correspondientes a las consejerías del Gobierno de Canarias se da en 48 de los 70 (68,57%), en 32 de los 39 correspondientes a los cabildos (82,05%) y en 20 de los 22 pertenecientes a los ayuntamientos (90,90%). No obstante, existe una mayor representación de mujeres en las direcciones pertenecientes a los ámbitos de Salud, Cultura y Servicios Sociales (90,32%).

Según este Informe, ninguna de las consejerías del Gobierno de Canarias cumple de forma total el principio de representación equilibrada recogido en el artículo 12 de la ley canaria de igualdad en lo que respecta a la composición de sus órganos colegiados. Sin embargo, la Consejería de Hacienda, Presupuestos y Asuntos Europeos es la que tiene una representación más equilibrada (90%), con una sola entidad que incumple y que, según afirma la Diputación del Común, corrigió su composición tras aceptar la recomendación de la Institución, por lo que en la actualidad llega al 100%.

Por su parte, la Consejería de Sanidad es la que presenta más incumplimientos por exceso en el número de mujeres, ya que de los 17 órganos que no tienen representación equilibrada, 15 son por este motivo, es decir, un 88,23%.

En cuanto a los cabildos insulares, estos son los que peores resultados arrojan, ya que de los 83 entes públicos solo cumplen 44 de ellos, lo que significa un 53,01%. A pesar de ello, el Cabildo de La Palma es la única corporación insular que cumple al 100% el criterio de participación equilibrada, y se observa en sus 8 organismos públicos.

En cambio, los ayuntamientos del Archipiélago son los que más respetan el principio de representación equilibrada entre hombres y mujeres en sus entidades colegiadas, ya que de las 98 existentes, 76 cumplen, por lo que llegan al 77,55%. Así, de los 88 ayuntamientos, 34 cuentan con empresas, fundaciones, organismos u otras entidades que forman parte del sector público dependiente de los mismos y, de estos, 12 incumplen.

En definitiva, “este informe extraordinario es nuestra contribución a la celebración del Día Internacional de la Mujer y nuestra aportación a la lucha por una igualdad real”, aseguró Barrera.

Ukrainekrise: Appell der Behindertenbeauftragten von Bund und Ländern
 

Vor dem Hintergrund der Situation in der Ukraine und der zunehmenden Zahl an Flüchtenden appellieren die Behindertenbeauftragten von Bund und Ländern, die besonderen Belange von Geflüchteten mit Behinderungen in den Blick zu nehmen.

In einem offiziellen Schreiben an die Bundesministerin des Auswärtigen, die Bundesministerin des Inneren und für Heimat, die Innenministerkonferenz, die Arbeits- und Sozialministerkonferenz und die Integrationsministerkonferenz führen sie aus, welche Aspekte für eine gute Unterbringung und Versorgung von Geflüchteten mit Behinderungen berücksichtigt werden sollten:
 

• Systematische Identifizierung von Geflüchteten mit Behinderungen und ihrer Bedarfe bei Ankunft - Benennung übergeordneter Lotsen auf Landesebene zur Koordination erster Schritte nach Ankunft.
• Unmittelbare Bereitstellung dringend erforderlicher Hilfsmittel.
• Bedarfsgerechte Unterbringung - möglichst außerhalb von Sammelunterkünften.
• Für die medizinische Versorgung der Vertriebenen, die nach §§ 4 und 6 AsylbLG erfolgt, ist mit den Krankenkassen flächendeckend eine „auftragsweise Betreuung“ nach § 264 Abs. 1 SGB V zu vereinbaren.
• Die Kommunen sind auf die Sonderregelung des § 6 Absatz 2 AsylbLG für Vertriebene hinzuweisen. Diese Regelung ist weiter als § 6 Abs. 1 AsylbLG, der für Asylbegehrende gilt. Vertriebenen, die besondere Bedürfnisse haben, wird danach die erforderliche medizinische oder sonstige Hilfe gewährt. Damit haben Vertriebene mit Behinderungen bei Vorliegen der gesetzlichen Voraussetzungen auch einen Anspruch auf Leistungen der Eingliederungshilfe. Gleiches gilt für psychotherapeutische Leistungen. Um eine möglichst einheitliche und unkomplizierte Leistungsgewährung zu ermöglichen, ist z.B. durch ein Rundschreiben darüber zu informieren.
• Sicherstellung, dass für die Unterbringung in Aufnahmeeinrichtungen und Gemeinschaftsunterkünften Schutzmaßnahmen für Frauen und andere schutzbedürftige Personen wie Menschen mit Behinderungen getroffen sind bzw. werden (vgl. §§ 44 Abs. 2a, 53 Abs. 3 AsylG).
• Unverzügliche Eingliederung von Kindern mit Behinderungen in Kitas und Schulen.
• Schneller und unkomplizierter Zugang zu tagesstrukturierenden Maßnahmen
  (z.B. Tagesstätten der gemeindepsychiatrischen Dienste und Werkstätten für behinderte Menschen).
• Barrierefreie Informationsangebote, Informationen in Leichter Sprache, Dolmetschung sowie Gebärdensprachdolmetschung vorhalten.
• Zudem wird auf das Beratungsangebot der kommunalen Beauftragten für die Belange von Menschen mit Behinderungen sowie der Ergänzenden Unabhängigen Teilhabeberatung (EUTB) hingewiesen.

Darüber hinaus gilt die besondere Sorge der Beauftragten den Menschen, die aufgrund ihrer hohen Vulnerabilität nicht eigenständig in der Lage sind, die Ukraine zu verlassen. Hierfür müssten dringend humanitäre Korridore geöffnet und für die Rettung dieser Personengruppen genutzt werden. Außerdem sei die Situation von Kindern mit und ohne Behinderungen in ukrainischen Pflege- oder Waisenheimen Besorgnis erregend. Hierzu die Beauftragten: „Wir begrüßen es, wenn die Bundes- und Landesregierungen ein Aufnahme-Programm für diese Kinder unverzüglich auflegen.“

Sprecher der Konferenz der Behindertenbeauftragten von Bund und Ländern ist derzeit Michael Welsch (Sachsen).

Every year, around 1,600 students from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom embark optimistically on a study programme in the Netherlands. But many fail to make it to the end. The National Ombudsman drew attention to this issue. He investigated the challenges faced by Caribbean students and made recommendations for government and other organisations. What has been done in response? What points of action need to be followed up on? This is the subject of this reconstruction.
 

Why an investigation into Caribbean students?
 

"Oh, you must be used to this. Serving white people, I mean. It’s the perfect job for you."

This is a comment made to Caribbean student Tays while she is working part-time in hospitality in Amsterdam alongside her studies. Tays can hardly believe her ears. Did her colleague really say that?
 

Problems piling up

Tays comes from Bonaire. Her experience is no exception. Many young Caribbean people studying in the Netherlands face racism.

But racism is not the only problem they have to tackle. Language issues, cultural differences, limited support and guidance, complex laws and regulations: the list goes on.
 

 

Healthcare allowance: am I entitled to it or not? Do I have to be working to qualify? It can be hard to find your way around all the various allowances. – Siddharta (24)

The result? Many young Caribbeans get behind in their studies or fail to complete their degrees in the Netherlands. Debts pile up as a result and psychological issues can arise. 

Keeping up the pressure

These signals have been on the National Ombudsman’s radar for a while. From the students themselves, but also from Kompas For Students, the foundation where Deon Bisslik and Viviana Lopez Paz work. It is dedicated to providing guidance to Caribbean students in the Netherlands and helping them prepare in advance on the islands.

Deon: “In May 2017, we had already drawn the attention of the government and ministries to the problems faced by students. But it’s incredibly difficult finding structural solutions at that level. You really have to keep up the pressure.” 

An investigation

When no changes are forthcoming, the National Ombudsman decides to embark on his own investigation. He is determined to find out what issues young Caribbeans actually face. And which relevant organisations can resolve the problems.
 

The Caribbean Netherlands: a quick reminder

The Kingdom of the Netherlands is made of four countries: The Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Within the Netherlands, the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba have a separate status (special municipalities). They are known as the Caribbean Netherlands. Together with Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten, they make up the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.

The powers of the National Ombudsman apply to the Caribbean Netherlands only. Especially for this investigation, he chose to cooperate with his counterparts in Curaçao and Sint Maarten. In this long read, we have used the terms ‘Caribbean students’ and ‘young Caribbeans’ for the sake of brevity.
 

Approach and parties involved

A team of researchers sets to work. Annemarie Tuzgöl, project manager: “This issue involves an amazing number of players. We’ve brought them all together in order to gain an overall impression of the problems at play.”

To achieve this, the researchers introduce a series of initiatives:
 

• Via various different channels, a questionnaire is issued to Caribbean students who have studied (or are currently studying) in the Netherlands. Some 624 students complete the questionnaire.
   
• Focus group meetings are held with Caribbean students.
   
• The National Ombudsman’s researchers hold one-to-one interviews with students who study at a university of applied sciences and a lecturer.
   
• The researchers also talk to staff at the ministries, public bodies and organisations involved. These include the Ministry of Education, Culture & Science, DUO (the Education Executive Agency, which administers student grants and loans), the Social Insurance Bank (SVB), the National Office for Identity Data (RvIG), Het Arubahuis, Zorgverzekeringslijn (Health Insurance Information Line), Kences, Stichting DUWO, SSH Student Housing, WeConnect, Vereniging Levende Talen Papiaments (Papiamento Living Language Society), HvAnti, Stichting Studiefinanciering Curaçao (SSC), TuranGoeloe, Unified St. Maarten Connection (USC) and Stichting Kompas For Students.
   
• The researchers also attend webinars and study policy documents, parliamentary papers and reports.

es de en fr it hu pt sk

That is so even if they have not contested the unlawful deletion of those rights before the courts.

In 2013, Hungary adopted legislation which, as of 1 May 2014, cancelled the rights of usufruct belonging to persons who do not have a family relationship with the owner of the agricultural land concerned, located in that Member State.

Grossmania, a company owned by natural persons who are nationals of Member States other than Hungary, held rights of usufruct which they had acquired over agricultural parcels in Hungary. Following the extinguishment by operation of law, on 1 May 2014, of those rights of usufruct in accordance with that legislation, those rights were deleted from the land register. Grossmania did not contest that deletion.

By its judgment of 6 March 2018 in the preliminary rulings, SEGRO and Horváth, 1 the Court of Justice held that such legislation constituted an unjustified restriction of the principle of the free movement of capital. Similarly, by its judgment of 21 May 2019, 2 the Court held that, by adopting the national legislation at issue, Hungary had infringed that principle and the right to property guaranteed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

Following the first judgment, Grossmania applied to the Hungarian authorities to reinstate its rights of usufruct in the land register. That application was, however, rejected on the ground that the legislation at issue was still in force and prevented the reinstatement sought.

Grossmania brought an action against that administrative decision before the Győri Közigazgatási és Munkaügyi Bíróság (Administrative and Labour Court, Győr, Hungary). That court asks the Court of Justice whether, despite the fact that Grossmania did not contest the deletion of its rights of usufruct before the Courts, it must nevertheless disapply that legislation and require the Hungarian authorities to reinstate those rights.

By its judgment delivered today, the Court points out first of all that, in a situation where it has already given a clear reply to a question referred for a preliminary ruling on the interpretation of EU law, as in the present case in the judgment in SEGRO and Horváth, the national court must do everything necessary to ensure that that interpretation is applied.

In particular, since the national legislation at issue is incompatible with the principle of the free movement of capital, the Hungarian court must disregard that legislation when it examines whether the request for reinstatement could be rejected.

“Beyond the prompt humanitarian response already provided by European states to people fleeing the war in Ukraine, more support is urgently needed to protect their human rights and to support countries of arrival, in particular the Republic of Moldova”, said today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, following her three-day mission to the Republic of Moldova.

“I have met and listened to dozens of people who fled the war – in a reception centre in Chisinau, on the Ukrainian side of the border crossing near Palanca, and in other locations across the Republic of Moldova. For many of them, their first night spent in the Republic of Moldova was their first peaceful night in a long time. But confusion, anguish and trauma are clearly visible in their eyes. Their words express anger and distress. Mothers with children are worried about their immediate future. A little boy confided in me his fear of the war. Older people described how their lives have been suddenly uprooted by the shelling. People who travelled for many days and over long distances to bring their families to safety are now waiting in long lines at the border crossing. They are hopeful but weary. All those to whom I spoke are also worried about the safety and welfare of those left behind: their husbands, parents, relatives and friends, unwilling or unable to leave.”

As the Commissioner concluded her mission, the number of those who fled Ukraine reached over 2 million people according to UNHCR. Wedged between war-affected Ukraine and the European Union, the Republic of Moldova has been facing an unprecedented situation of coping with large-scale displacement. To this day, over 243,000 people have entered the country, and nearly 100,000 remained in the country at the time of the visit. Many more are waiting, in queues at the border in long lines of cars and on foot, anxious to reach safety.

The Moldovan authorities, NGOs and many ordinary citizens have stood up to the daunting challenge by mustering a humanitarian response, coordinating the provision of assistance to meet the basic needs of the arriving people, making reception centres available, and ensuring medical, psychosocial and administrative support. Since the beginning of the war, they have been dealing with a humanitarian emergency with very limited resources. “The enormous help offered to people fleeing the war in Ukraine in the Republic of Moldova and in other countries of arrival is a truly heart-warming demonstration of humanity,” added the Commissioner. “Thousands of people have come forward – volunteers, central and local government workers, civil society organisations, and ordinary people, young and old – selflessly working long shifts and going out of their way to provide help. Many NGOs, like the Casa Concordia, have rapidly refocused their ordinary activities to provide urgent humanitarian assistance, including food, clothing, safe shelter, means of communication, and toys for children.”

As the intensification of Russia’s attacks and the growing loss of civilian lives, amid continued reports of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, prompts even more people to flee abroad in search of safety, the situation remains extremely volatile. The international community should urgently step up its assistance to the most exposed countries of arrival, in particular the Republic of Moldova. More funding and institutional support, including manpower, skill, and expertise is urgently needed, as well as longer-term economic, humanitarian and institutional support, in order to help them to urgently scale up their response as needed. It is also very important to provide support for the early identification of vulnerable persons, especially women and children – who constitute 89% of all those who fled Ukraine to the Republic of Moldova – and their protection from gender-based violence, human trafficking, and exploitation. As with previous situations of large-scale arrivals of people seeking protection, dealing with the inflow of people must not be the sole responsibility of individual countries but a European one, with human rights protection and solidarity at its centre.

In order to protect the rights of the people fleeing from Ukraine who decide to remain in the Republic of Moldova, a long-term approach will have to be adopted and strategies and integration measures envisaged in good time, including through creating opportunities for child refugees to continue their education and by offering psychological assistance to all those who need it. “Even with the enormous amount of assistance and compassion, the human consequences of this war for the people of Ukraine are unfathomable. They have been deprived of their most basic human rights and their dignity was shattered. The deep wounds inflicted by this war will take a long time to heal.”, concluded the Commissioner.

During her emergency mission, the Commissioner visited a former boarding school in Cărpineni, urgently repurposed to serve as emergency housing for people fleeing the war, and a home for mothers and children in Ruseștii Noi, managed by the Moldovan office of the NGO Casa Concordia. The Commissioner and members of her team also visited emergency reception centres for people who fled Ukraine, located at the MoldEXPO international exposition centre and the Manejul sports hall in Chisinau. Together with a delegation from the OSCE Mission in Moldova, the Commissioner travelled to Palanca in the southern area of the Republic of Moldova and visited both sides of the border crossing between Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, as well as a temporary reception camp on the Moldovan side in Palanca. In Chisinau, the Commissioner held meetings with the Minister of Interior, Ana Revenco; State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Vladimir Cuc; the Ombudsman, Ceslav Panico, and the Children’s Rights Ombudsman, Maia Bănărescu.