Sozialsprechstunde: Bürgerbeauftragte berät in Schwarzenbek persönlich

Date of article: 11/10/2022

Daily News of: 18/10/2022

Country:  Germany - Schleswig-Holstein

Author: Regional Ombudsman of Schleswig-Holstein

Article language: de

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.

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La síndica ve un avance en la eliminación del voto rogado, pero pide que se estudien sistemas telemáticos alternativos para mejorar las cifras de participación

Date of article: 11/10/2022

Daily News of: 18/10/2022

Country:  Spain - Catalonia

Author: Regional Ombudsman of Catalonia

Article language: es

La LOREG establecía desde 2011 la necesidad de los ciudadanos residentes en el extranjero de solicitar la documentación electoral para ejercer su derecho de voto

La institución del Síndic de Greuges ha recibido numerosas quejas de ciudadanos que no recibían la documentación a tiempo y no podían votar

Es imprescindible que se aborde definitivamente la promulgación de una ley electoral catalana
 

Desde el año 2011 la institución del Síndic de Greuges ha recibido numerosas quejas de ciudadanos residentes en el extranjero que no han podido ejercer su derecho de voto en unos comicios por las dificultades que les ha supuesto el sistema de voto rogado.

La Ley orgánica del régimen electoral (LOREG) establecía que para que estas personas pudieran votar tenían que estar inscritas en el Censo electoral de residentes ausentes (CERA) y solicitar por escrito que se les enviara la documentación necesaria (hasta el año 2011 esta documentación se enviaba de oficio a todas las personas inscritas en los registros de votantes desde el exterior).

Las quejas recibidas por la institución ponían de manifiesto numerosas incidencias que hacían que el sistema fuera muy farragoso, y que los calendarios fijados por la LOREG eran demasiados ajustados. Además, el cúmulo de trámites que tenían que realizar estos electores resultaba disuasivo y había afectado al índice de participación –menos del 4% de los electores del exterior votaron en las elecciones catalanas de 2021, mientras que hasta 2010, antes de la vigencia del voto rogado, la participación oscilaba entre el 13% y el 30%.

Desde entonces, la institución del Síndic de Greuges ha solicitado en varias ocasiones que se eliminara el voto rogado y que se introdujera un sistema de emisión de voto electrónico que permitiera a cualquier persona emitir su voto de forma remota independientemente del lugar de residencia con menos trámites y mayor seguridad. En este sentido, la síndica entiende que la reforma de la LOREG publicada esta misma semana es una buena noticia, puesto que va en la línea de dar más garantías al derecho de sufragio y afectará en positivo al índice de participación. Pese a lo anterior, sigue insistiendo que sería muy provechoso estudiar la posibilidad de introducir mecanismos alternativos que permitan ejercer el derecho de sufragio activo de manera telemática y de una forma más sencilla para el elector. Por ejemplo, sería un avance importante que la inscripción en el CERA o la solicitud de acreditación para poder votar se pudiera hacer telemáticamente.

Además, la síndica recuerda también que Cataluña es la única comunidad autónoma que aún no dispone de ley electoral. Esto impide que haya una junta electoral catalana, que las circunscripciones electorales se adecúen a la realidad demográfica de Cataluña o que las listas electorales sean obligatoriamente paritarias. En este contexto, y con el objetivo de dar respuesta a otras dificultades que presenta el sufragio activo actualmente, pide que en esta legislatura se aborde definitivamente la promulgación de una ley electoral propia de Cataluña, de acuerdo con lo establecido en el artículo 56 del Estatuto de autonomía de Cataluña. 

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El Síndic urge a garantizar la seguridad y salubridad de una vivienda pública del barrio alicantino Miguel Hernández

Date of article: 11/10/2022

Daily News of: 18/10/2022

Country:  Spain - Valencia

Author: Regional Ombudsman of Valencia

Article language: es

El sindic de Greuges de la Comunitat Valenciana, Ángel Luna, ha instado a la Conselleria de Vivienda a adoptar medidas que aseguren las condiciones de seguridad, habitabilidad y salubridad en una vivienda social ubicada en la calle Padre Cerdá en el barrio Miguel Hernández de Alicante.

El defensor del pueblo valenciano inició su actuación tras recibir la queja de la vecina afectada que había solicitado, sin éxito, a dicha Conselleria que realizara los trabajos para reparar las filtraciones que afectaban su casa y que procedían del piso superior.

En el informe remitido al Síndic, la propia administración autonómica reconocía que la reparación de la vivienda debería realizarse de manera inmediata, debido a que se veía comprometida la seguridad, habitabilidad y salubridad de los ocupantes de los inmuebles y de los viandantes. Sin embargo, no indicaba que hubiese llevado a cabo las obras de reparación imprescindibles para solventar la situación descrita. El informe también puntualizaba que, para poder subsanar las filtraciones que afectaban a la vivienda, era necesario que previamente se procediera a la limpieza y retirada de basuras acumuladas en el piso superior. Y señalaba que, mientras no prosperara el procedimiento iniciado por la Conselleria para que los servicios sociales municipales se hicieran cargo de las personas que residen en el piso superior y se vaciara la vivienda, no se podría actuar y proceder a su reparación.

Por eso, el defensor también pide a la Consell que requiera a los servicios sociales del Ayuntamiento de Alicante que se hagan cargo de las personas que residen en la vivienda superior y que se proceda a vaciar la vivienda causante de la insalubridad.

Consulta nuestra actuación: 11885913.pdf (elsindic.com)

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"Monitoring the observance of the rights of people from vulnerable groups deprived of liberty". Conference of European National Mechanisms for the Prevention of Torture

Date of article: 10/10/2022

Daily News of: 18/10/2022

Country:  Poland

Author: Polish Ombudsman

Article language: en

On October 5-6 this year, the director of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture (NMPT) took part in a meeting of representatives of national preventive mechanisms from EU Member States, which was held in Strasbourg. The annual exchange of experiences  was devoted this year to the issue of monitoring the observance of the rights of people from the so-called vulnerable groups deprived of liberty (minors, elderly people, women, migrants, LGBTQI). The meeting was organized by and by the Council of Europe. The panelists included representatives of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the European Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

During the first meeting, the director of the NMPT presented the experiences of the Polish mechanism in the field of the situation of minor mothers staying in rehabilitation centers. He described the efforts of the NMPT aimed at creating special units in such institutions for underage mothers and their children. This solution guarantees the possibility of the stay of the mother remaining in the rehabilitation process, along with her newborn child, in the institution. The Director emphasized that the NMPT recommendation was implemented after almost 10 years of its renewal, both in the annual reports of the Mechanism and in general statements of the Commissioner for Human Rights addressed to the Minister of Justice and the Minister of National Education. Thanks to the new Act on the Support and Rehabilitation of Minors, it has become possible to create wards for mothers with children staying in youth care centers, shelters for minors and correctional facilities. Conference participants discussed the special techniques used by national preventive mechanisms during preventive visits, highlighting how they deal with the various problems encountered during them. The conference was a great opportunity to exchange views and best practices, learn from each other and work together on effective remedies to improve the treatment and living conditions of people with so-called vulnerable groups deprived of liberty. Such people include children and adolescents, the elderly, women, migrants and minorities (there are also inextricable interrelationships between these categories - e.g. unaccompanied migrant children from minority backgrounds may be subject to numerous restrictions depriving them of adequate protection against ill-treatment in detention places) . Inevitably, preventing torture and inhuman and degrading treatment requires a holistic, interdisciplinary and long-term approach. The participants agreed on the need to organize further meetings devoted entirely to the specific needs of representatives of sexual minorities deprived of their liberty.
 

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September 2022 News Summary

Date of article: 10/10/2022

Daily News of: 18/10/2022

Country:  Latvia

Author: Ombudsman of Latvia

Article language: en

September – Civic Engagement Month

The Ombudsman declared September as the month of civic engagement. The Ombudsman’s Office delivered a social media campaign on the following topics: elections, public debate, freedom of association, volunteering, pickets, rallies and strikes, referendums and signature collection, involvement in local administration, law enforcement mechanisms, protection of vulnerable groups, freedom of speech and expression, privacy and data protection.

In particular, the Ombudsman stressed the importance of elections, inviting everyone to participate in the parliamentary elections on 1 October and to vote for the option that would provide – in their opinion – the best possible future, not just for the lesser evil.

“Annual Award for Supporting People with Disabilities”: Submissions are Open

The Ombudsman has called on people to notice and appreciate the important contribution of the people around them and their work in support of people with disabilities, by submitting them for the 8th “Annual Award for Supporting People with Disabilities”. The award is aimed towards activities launched or implemented between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022. The award is organised by the Ombudsman, in cooperation with the Association of Disabled Persons and their Friends “Apeirons” and the National Library of Latvia.

Ombudsman Withdraws from the European Ombudsman Institute

On September 16, Ombudsman Juris Jansons sent a letter to the European Ombudsman Institute (EOI), announcing his withdrawal from the organisation. The main reason for this step is the organisation’s dubious attitude towards the Russian Federation and its long-lasting military activities in Ukraine, as well as its continued cooperation with the National High Commissioner for Human Rights of the Russian Federation’s Tatyana Moskalkova.

“It is not acceptable for me to be a member and board member of an organization that does not have a clear and firm position in relation to Russia’s war in Ukraine. As a human rights defender, it is important for me to take a stance at the European level, so I call on other ombudsmen to evaluate their participation in the organisation,” says J. Jansons.

Ombudsman: Politicians Must Comply with Constitutional Court Judgments and Urgently Revise the Minimum Income Levels

The Ombudsman called on the government to review minimum income levels for guaranteed minimum income and state social security benefits as early as October. He also stressed that the government should ensure that the planned increase in the minimum pension and state social security benefit reaches the population already in January, rather than in May as planned at the moment. It is important to note that people with disabilities make up the majority of recipients of state social security benefits.

The Ombudsman has already spoken out about this issue on several occasions. “Such a delay is, in essence, a blatant ignorance of judgments of the Constitutional Court, even mockery of the Court,” he points out.

Ombudsman Calls for Support for All Households Regardless of the Type of Heating Used

The Ombudsman addressed Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš with a request to assess the need to compensate for energy costs for all households in the upcoming heating season, regardless of the type of heating technology used (provided that the specific technology can be used according to the current regulatory framework).

Currently, aid is provided to households using electricity, natural gas, wood pellets, briquettes and firewood for heating purposes. In the case of liquefied gas and diesel fuel, no support is foreseen, although these types of heating technologies are allowed in the country.

Ombudsman: Children are Hostage to the Inaction of Politicians and Blackmail of Teachers

Teachers had planned to go on an open-ended strike on 19 September. The Ombudsman stressed that it is the duty of the State and local governments to provide education to children. He expressed concern that children’s right to education had been forgotten amidst the struggle of teachers for the right to fair remuneration and the failure of politicians to ensure this constitutional principle. Teachers have the right to go on strike, but children should not suffer from it.

Ombudsman: Screentime for Children Must be Limited – Including in the Education Process

The Ministry of Health has come out with new recommendations, aiming to limit screentime for children. In the opinion of the Ombudsman, a new regulatory framework that would be binding on educational institutions would be a more effective means of protecting children’s rights. However, he is convinced that the recommendations are a step in the right direction in the aim to create a learning environment that is safe for children’s health and development.

Ombudsman Invites Schools to Apply for “Ready for Life” Lectures

In the “Ready for Life” lectures and excursions, experts from different fields highlight the ways that knowledge gained in school can be used in different life situations and professions. Experts from the Ombudsman’s Office are taking part in the programme by offering lectures on electoral literacy, data protection and trafficking in human beings. In the near future, schools will also be able to apply for lectures on tolerance in society, freedom of expression and hate speech.

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