On 26 September 2022, the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary Dr. Ákos Kozma and Deputy Commissioner for the Rights of National Minorities Dr. Elisabeth Sándor-Szalay attended the session of the Parliamentary Committee Representing the Nationalities in Hungary, where the parties discussed Report No. B/16 on the activities of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary and his Deputies in 2021. 

Following the presentation of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary and the Deputy Commissioner for the Rights of National Minorities, the members of the Committee asked questions in connection with the report. After the questions were answered, the Committee Representing the Nationalities in Hungary supported the report on the activities of the Commissioner and his Deputies in 2021 with 12 votes in favour, none against and no abstentions, and proposed it for approval to the Parliament.

On 29 September, Erika Leonaitė, Head of the Seimas Ombudspersons’ Office, received a delegation from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex consisting of officers from 15 different countries. The delegation was interested in the activities of the Seimas Ombudspersons’ Office and experience in solving human rights issues related to migration.

When introducing the members of the delegation and the objectives of the visit, Mr. Jonas Grimheden, Frontex Fundamental Rights Officer (FRO), drew attention to the delegation’s desire to gain practical knowledge in the areas of monitoring violations at the border and investigation of migrants’ asylum complaints.

During the meeting, the Head of the Seimas Ombudspersons’ Office, Erika Leonaitė, presented the activities of the Office and the mandates of the Seimas Ombudspersons, paying particular attention to the application of these mandates when solving human rights problems in the field of migration. In addition, E Leonaitė presented the legal acts governing performance of the functions of the national prevention of torture, explained the procedure of making recommendations, as well as their implementation and monitoring.

Head of the Human Rights Division of the Seimas Ombudspersons’ Office, Vytautas Valentinavičius, when talking about the activities of the Division, briefly presented the reports on the prevention of torture in the field of migration, and in reply to the guests’ questions, delved into the essence of the NPM visits and detailed how such visits differ from the verification of actual circumstances in on-site visits in the field of investigation of complaints.

The guests were interested in the fact whether the representatives of the institution actively participate in solving the problems caused by the migration crisis, how they try to find dialogue with the authorities in order to comply with international standards in the field of migration, what measures do they take when human rights violations are observed at border check points and other places where migrants’ freedom is restricted.

Speaking about the dialogue with the interested administrative authorities, the Head of the Seimas Ombudspersons’ Office emphasized that the representatives of the Office are constantly communicating with the Ministries of the Interior and Social Security and Labour, the State Border Guard Service and other institutions in order to achieve greater efficiency in the implementation of the presented recommendations and in an effort to draw attention to extremely urgent and major issues as well as find solutions based on the protection of human rights.

El Defensor del Pueblo, Ángel Gabilondo, se ha reunido este lunes con la Asociación Rafael Alberti-Presa, que representa a las familias afectadas por las obras de la Línea 7B del Metro a su paso por la localidad madrileña de San Fernando de Henares.

Desde que se construyera esta línea de Metro, en 2007, existen bloques de viviendas que presentan grietas, incluso algunas han tenido que ser demolidas, y decenas de personas se han visto obligadas a abandonar sus casas, al menos 145, y ser realojadas. Otras tantas son afectadas por esta situación.

En el encuentro, los vecinos han manifestado las vicisitudes a las que se enfrentan y han denunciado su malestar por la falta de respuestas de las administraciones.

Ángel Gabilondo señala que “se trata de un drama humano y social” y subraya que es “inadmisible la situación de incertidumbre en la se encuentran los vecinos afectados”. Al mismo tiempo, el Defensor del Pueblo apunta que “desde esta institución ya nos hemos dirigido a las administraciones competentes, solicitando información sobre las medidas que se han de adoptado y que se van a adoptar. Esta es una situación que requiere una solución urgente y vamos a persistir en esta idea donde corresponda”.

Han asistido a la reunión Eva María Medina, María del Carmen Ramírez, Eloy Rodríguez y Juan Antonio Fuentes, todos ellos miembros de la mencionada Asociación. Por parte de la institución, también ha participado en el encuentro la adjunta segunda del Defensor del Pueblo, Patricia Bárcena.

The Commissioner for Education, Chief Justice Emeritus Vincent De Gaetano, visited the Institute for Tourism Studies Freshers’ 2022.

The ITS CEO, Mr Pierre Fenech, welcomed the Commissioner and explained the vision and upcoming ITS projects.

The Office of the Ombudsman took part in this year’s ITS Freshers’ event giving information about the role and services of the institution.

When people speak up, they need to be able to do so in a safe and supportive environment. Sometimes it’s as easy as raising a concern in a team meeting and matters getting resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. But if the concern involves a manager, or people don’t feel comfortable speaking to their manager, the Confidential Contact (sometimes called Whistleblowing or Speak Up Ambassador) can help.

Who are confidential contacts?

Confidential Contacts have a valuable role in supporting an open speak up culture in the NHS. They enable people to speak up who otherwise might not have their voice heard. They are a first point of contact for anyone delivering an NHS service. They can give advice and information on the whistleblowing process and help people to raise their concerns with the right manager.

Confidential Contacts have an ongoing role in supporting the whistleblower, so it is important that they remain independent of the board’s investigation and management of the concern. Confidential Contacts also have a role in promoting speaking up and helping to build trust in the process. With most Confidential Contacts doing this role in addition to their NHS job - and there being only a few Confidential Contacts in each board - this is a challenge.

Positive momentum

On 1 April 2021, the INWO launched the National Whistleblowing Standards (the Standards), which now means that all organisations providing an NHS service need to have procedures in place that enable their staff, students, volunteers and others delivering health services, to access the Standards and raise concerns. Caroline McDowall and Hannah Monaghan, co-chairs of the Scottish Speak Up Network, both held whistleblowing roles prior to the Standards coming into force and feel that they have made a real difference.

"This is an exciting time to be a Confidential Contact. Prior to the roll out of the new whistleblowing standards our roles were relatively isolated. We feel that there is a growing positive momentum across Scottish NHS boards to support the Speak Up! Listen Up! Follow Up! approach.”

Caroline told us that one of the most satisfying things about being a Confidential Contact is where a concern has not needed to go through a formal process after all, because the whistleblower has been supported to the extent that they feel comfortable to raise a business as usual concern. For Hannah, it’s seeing a clear and defined national direction for whistleblowing and drive to support an open and honest culture.

Scottish Speak Up Network

As the process in the National Whistleblowing Standards is still fairly new, Confidential Contacts are continuing to learn and develop in their roles. This is where the Scottish Speak Up Network has been invaluable. Hannah and Caroline told us,

“The Scottish Speak Up Network has given all Confidential Contacts the opportunity to get peer support and learn from each other. Because this is a confidential space, we can discuss openly how it feels to be a Confidential Contact and how we can deliver the role as best as possible. 

We have also benefitted from support and development. Part of our network sessions are focussed on external speakers upskilling us all and increasing our awareness of work undertaken by other groups.”

The network is especially helpful for Confidential Contacts who do not have peer support within their own boards and who feel isolated. Confidential Contacts hear things that are challenging and the network is an ideal opportunity to help them process these experiences. It is also a safe space, with no blame, where people can ask questions and benefit from the experience of colleagues.

Benchmarking the role 

The Scottish Speak Up Network is currently working towards standardising the role of the Confidential Contact. They have recognised that Confidential Contacts have different remits in each board, and even go beyond what the Standards intended. The network recently carried out its own benchmarking exercise of Confidential Contact roles, which they will be discussing with members in their next meeting. Confidential Contacts will be able to use the outcomes of this work to have conversations with their boards about their roles and how these should be developed. The INWO really welcomes this work and look forward to working with Confidential Contacts to shape and develop their role over the coming months.

Some of the early findings of the benchmarking exercise are that not all confidential contacts are aware of their role in supporting the whistleblower throughout the process. Some aren’t involved in promotion of speaking up or raising awareness either. There is also no formal training to be a Confidential Contact. Training opportunities have been different with some trained in soft skills and others having completed the National Freedom to Speak Up Guardian’s training in England, prior to the launch of the Standards.

The INWO and Scottish Speak Up Network are in regular contact and INWO has attended the network’s meetings to talk about topics like bullying and whistleblowing, and whistleblowing culture. The INWO is fully supportive of the network and will be providing any assistance it can to help.