On 9 March 2022, the heads of the Information Commissioner, the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, the Court of Auditors and the Ombudsman met on a working meeting at which they pointed to the issue of ensuring conditions for the functioning of the independent institutions.

Despite the joint statement which was communicated to the media on 11 June 2021, urging appropriate communication and respect and the recognition of the importance of autonomous and independent government bodies in a democratic society, the participants in the meeting note that political pressure continues, not just in the form of coordinated attacks through some media and on social networks, but also indirectly through inappropriate statements or responses of some high representatives of institutions to decisions and opinions delivered by the aforementioned independent institutions.

Attention should also be drawn to non-implementation of or non-compliance with the recommendations and findings of the independent institutions. This raises concerns that, instead of respecting individual findings and decisions, there are frequent attempts at discrediting institutions and their representatives. Improper, politically motivated and undue pressures represent dangerous destruction of the state control mechanisms, which is contrary to the responsible way of governing the state. The decisions of independent institutions are entirely based on the professional and law-based work of institutions’ staff. Decisions made in procedures are based on objectively established professional arguments and in strict compliance with legal provisions, not on subjective judgments on the part of the institution heads.

It is clear that it is not always easy for institutions that control the functioning of the state to make decisions, but in the event of a disagreement only legal remedies should be applied. The political pressures and improper communication without any argumented criticism that are often witnessed in our society are totally unacceptable. Redirecting attention away from the observed irregularities is irresponsible and therefore extremely detrimental to the stability of the Republic of Slovenia and further development of its democracy.

Attention should also be called to non-compliance with the Constitutional Court’s decision on the financing of independent government bodies of the Republic of Slovenia, No.  U-I-474/18-17 of 10 December 2020, according to which the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia grants to these institutions an autonomous and independent status in which the key element is budgetary independence. In the Constitutional Court’s opinion, the current legislative framework enables the government to request adjustments of financial plan proposals, which forces these institutions into submission to the will of the competent ministry in the executive branch of power. The Constitutional Court imposed on the legislator the obligation to eliminate the identified unconstitutionality within one year of the publication of its decision, which has not been complied with to date.  

During the run-up to the elections, numerous discussions, speeches and confrontations will take place. As the work of independent government bodies must continue, they will, as ever, make in this period certain decisions that will not be accepted favourably by certain politicians. Therefore the independent institutions appeal to politicians not to use them for political purposes. These independent institutions were established to ensure and safeguard fundamental values, including access to public information and personal data protection, enhancing integrity and the prevention of corruption, monitoring public spending, and ensuring respect for human rights. Public and decisive action needs to be taken to counter any attempts to undermine democratic principles, which hinder the independent institutions in the proper exercise of their powers and tarnish their long-standing reputation.

Politicians are urged to respect the role and decisions of all independent government bodies, as they represent one of the necessary foundations of democracy in the country.

Newly-appointed Ombudsman Ger Deering has cautiously welcomed the progress being made by government in reforming the direct provision system.  While there was a decline in the numbers of people in emergency accommodation, the Ombudsman said that a lot remained to be done to get people out of what is unsuitable accommodation.

The Ombudsman was speaking today [9 March 2022] at the publication of his annual Commentary on complaints his Office receives about direct provision services - ‘The Ombudsman and Direct Provision: Update for 2021’.   His Office saw a 62% increase in complaints about direct provision services in 2021, largely as a result of the return of his Office’s ‘outreach’ visits to direct provision centres at the end of last year.  The visits had previously been suspended due to COVID-related restrictions. 

The Ombudsman received 99 complaints about direct provision services in 2021 compared with 61 in 2020.  The main issues complained about were refusal of requests for transfers to other centres, accommodation issues, and access to medical and GP cards.  

The Ombudsman’s outreach team carried out visits to 17 accommodation centres at the end of 2021 taking 52 complaints during the visits.  Many of the complaints were resolved ‘on the spot’ or shortly after the visits.

The Ombudsman said that his Office will continue to engage with the relevant stakeholders in the sector, including the International Protection Accommodation Service, on implementation of the commitments in the Government’s White Paper to end Direct Provision.

The Ombudsman’s Commentary, ‘The Ombudsman and Direct Provision: Update for 2021’, which includes further details of complaints made to the Office and selected case studies, is available on the Ombudsman’s website www.ombudsman.ie.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has expressed concern over reports of “chaos and confusion” facing refugees trying to apply for a British visa to escape the devastating impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

UK MPs have told the media they are hearing stories from their constituents that relatives are being turned away from visa centres in Poland, centres are closed in Brussels, and the only available appointments are weeks from now. There have also been reports about lack of clear information about where visa processing centres are located, personal details being lost and visa applications being delayed.

These reports echo the failings the Ombudsman sees in complaints we receive about the Home Office - processing delays, poor communication, inadequate signposting, and loss of personal information.

We support calls from MPs across the political spectrum for the Home Office to take immediate action so that those in desperate need get their cases dealt with swiftly. We recommend they do this by:

• removing unnecessary delays and bureaucracy in the visa application process
• improving the resourcing, efficiency, and transparency of the process.

Ombudsman Rob Behrens said:

“Millions of refugees from Ukraine have faced long and harrowing journeys to get to places of safety in Poland, Belgium, France and other countries. They want to be safe and reunited with their family members in the UK as soon as possible.

"It is vital the Home Office acts to correct failings in its handling of visa applications, especially failings we have previously reported and which we are seeing repeated here. In this horrendous situation swift action is needed to make sure the process of getting a visa is simple, accessible and quick. Lives depend on it.”

La adjunta segunda de la Diputación del Común, Milagros Fuentes, representantes de la Corporación Insular, así como de la Dirección General de la Administración del Estado se sumaron a la lectura del manifiesto de este año.

El Cabildo de La Palma se sumó un año más al Día Internacional de las Mujeres, que se celebra el 8 de marzo y que, en esta ocasión, se desarrolla bajo el lema de la campaña impulsada por los siete cabildos y el Instituto Canario de Igualdad, Nosotras jugamos, nosotras elegimos. Con esta campaña se pretende romper con las desigualdades estructurales que empiezan a forjarse a una edad temprana, la infancia, debido a la forma en que niños y niñas se socializan. Así, se reivindica la libertad para que las niñas elijan sus juegos, juguetes y crezcan en igualdad.

Representantes políticos y del personal de la Corporación Insular, así como de la Dirección General de la Administración del Estado en la Isla, se reunieron en las puertas de la Casa Rosada para la lectura del manifiesto de este año.

La consejera de Igualdad del Cabildo, Nieves Hernández, defiende la importancia de continuar celebrando este día, “ya que aún seguimos viviendo en una sociedad que es más difícil para las mujeres por el hecho de serlo y es una labor conjunta de toda la ciudadanía y de las administraciones trabajar para lograr un mundo igualitario donde mujeres y hombres tengan los mismos derechos y oportunidades”.

El Cabildo, junto al resto de cabildos y el Instituto Canario de Igualdad, ha puesto en marcha la campaña con motivo del 8M de este año, que cuenta con un spot audiovisual, una cuña de radio y cartelería impresa, en medios digitales y en redes sociales.

El pasado 4 de marzo se celebró un acto en homenaje a las mujeres, a través de la exposición itinerante mujer(es) realizada por el alumnado de la Escuela de Arte Manolo Blahnik tras participar en charlas de igualdad, que recorrerá distintos Institutos de Educación Secundaria de La Palma para involucrar a toda la comunidad en la lucha por la igualdad. Además, la Corporación Insular ha iluminado de violeta la fachada de la Casa Principal de Salazar como conmemoración de este día. Ambas acciones están enmarcadas dentro de la conmemoración del 8M.

“Desde el Cabildo seguimos trabajando de manera transversal para avanzar como sociedad en este sentido, algo que, además se plantea en nuestra estrategia para cumplir con la Agenda 2030 y los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible, especialmente con el ODS5 orientado a lograr la igualdad entre los géneros y empoderar a todas las mujeres y las niñas”, explica Nieves Hernández.

En este sentido, la consejera también recuerda que el Cabildo mantiene su firme compromiso por la igualdad de género durante todo el año a través de distintas acciones en pro de este avance social.

“Desarrollamos acciones enmarcadas en el Plan Estratégico de Igualdad y Prevención de Violencia de Género de La Palma como por ejemplo el respaldo que se está dando a la Federación Insular de Baloncesto, a través del patrocinio de la Liga de Baloncesto Sénior Femenina y Masculina de la isla de La Palma contra la Violencia de Género”, manifiesta Hernández.

También se han llevado a cabo otras iniciativas como la creación del Equipo Motor del Plan, que es la primera estructura de gestión del mismo, así como la reciente creación de la Comisión Técnica de Igualdad del Consejo Insular de Servicios Sociales, grupo de trabajo que se ha definido para estructurar las acciones y contenidos dentro de los planes anuales de trabajo en relación a líneas de acciones definidas dentro del Plan.

Nieves Hernández explica que, en el desarrollo del Plan de este año se trabajarán acciones en las líneas de infancia y juventud, participación ciudadana, creación de las condiciones para la igualdad y la violencia de género. Se incluyen, entre otros, proyectos dirigidos a menores y juventud a través de los centros educativos y a mujeres atendidas desde la Unidad técnica de Menores y de Prevención y Protección Integral de las Víctimas de Violencia de Género del Servicio de Acción Social del Cabildo de La Palma, uno de los cuales estará orientado al crecimiento personal mientras que otro al acompañamiento en la maternidad.

La Diputación del Común prepara un informe sobre la situación de la Dependencia en las islas que será presentado en el Parlamento de Canarias.

Rafael Yanes se reunió con la directora general de Dependencia y Discapacidad del Gobierno de Canarias para estudiar la situación actual de la Dependencia y recabar información sobre el servicio.

El Diputado del Común, Rafael Yanes, se reunió con la directora general de Dependencia y Discapacidad del Gobierno de Canarias, Marta Arocha, para recabar y contrastar información sobre el servicio, que será incluida en el Informe Extraordinario sobre la situación de la Dependencia en el Archipiélago con datos de fecha de 31 de diciembre de 2021, y que presentará la Diputación del Común en el Parlamento de Canarias en el primer semestre de 2022.

De esta forma, la Dirección General de Dependencia y Discapacidad del Gobierno de Canarias colaboró con la Diputación del Común para esclarecer la situación de la Dependencia en las islas y favorecer la elaboración de este informe extraordinario.