El Defensor del Pueblo acude a Melilla

Date of article: 19/07/2022

Daily News of: 19/07/2022

Country:  Spain

Author: National Ombudsman of Spain

Article language: es

El Defensor del Pueblo, Ángel Gabilondo, acude hoy a Melilla para conocer in situ el testimonio de las autoridades de la Ciudad Autónoma, de las Fuerzas y Cuerpos de Seguridad del Estado, de las entidades que trabajan en la zona y de quienes accedieron a territorio español -ahora en el Centro de Estancia Temporal de Inmigrantes (CETI)- sobre los trágicos sucesos acaecidos el 24 de junio en el perímetro fronterizo de Melilla.

El Defensor tiene previsto reunirse con el presidente de la Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla, Eduardo de Castro, y con la delegada del Gobierno en Melilla, Sabrina Moh. Además, Ángel Gabilondo mantendrá encuentros con los mandos de las Fuerzas y Cuerpos de Seguridad del Estado y con entidades que operan en la Ciudad Autónoma.

El 24 de junio, cerca de 2.000 personas intentaron pasar irregularmente a territorio español. En este suceso fallecieron decenas de migrantes -el número no ha sido aún precisado- en territorio marroquí. Y hubo más de 300 heridos -agentes españoles y marroquíes y migrantes-.

Ese mismo día el Defensor del Pueblo lamentó expresamente la pérdida de vidas humanas, se puso en contacto telefónico con la delegada del Gobierno en Melilla, y con la directora general de la Guardia Civil para interesarse por lo sucedido y por las víctimas y heridos. También telefoneó al presidente de la Ciudad Autónoma. El Defensor preguntó por el estado de las personas que llegaron a territorio español -cómo se habían aplicado los protocolos en el CETI de Melilla y la asistencia letrada recibida- además de por la situación de los miembros de las Fuerzas y Cuerpos de Seguridad del Estado que resultaron heridos.

La queja dio lugar a distintas actuaciones y solicitudes de información ante organismos administrativos: Ministerio del Interior (Secretaría de Estado de Seguridad) y Ministerio de Inclusión (Dirección General de Atención Humanitaria), a fin de supervisar, como corresponde al Defensor del Pueblo, la actividad de la Administración.

La actuación está abierta y habrá de completarse con la información recibida de las administraciones y la que se recabe tras los encuentros mantenidos en Melilla.

El Defensor del Pueblo acude a Melilla acompañado por la adjunta segunda, Patricia Bárcena, y por un equipo técnico de la institución.

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El Ararteko pide al Ayuntamiento de Bilbao modifique la tarifa general de la tarjeta horaria de aparcamiento

Date of article: 15/07/2022

Daily News of: 19/07/2022

Country:  Spain - Basque Country

Author: Regional Ombudsman of the Basque Country

Article language: es

Un ciudadano presentó una queja al Ararteko en la que cuestionaba, desde la perspectiva del derecho de igualdad, el diferente tratamiento que el Ayuntamiento de Bilbao estaba otorgando al estacionamiento en la zona OTA, durante los primeros 15 minutos, dependiendo de si la correspondiente autorización se obtenía en los parquímetros o por medio de la aplicación App Bilbao Park. 
Indicaba que, si el tique se sacaba en los parquímetros, el estacionamiento del vehículo estaba sujeto al abono de una tasa de 0.10 euros; pero resultaba gratuito si la autorización se obtenía a través de la App Bilbao Park. 

El interesado manifestó su disconformidad con la medida, en un escrito registrado ante el Ayuntamiento de Bilbao. 

El Área de Movilidad y Sostenibilidad, en su respuesta, se limitó a confirmar que en la ordenanza fiscal correspondiente al año 2020 había aprobado, para el tique de 15 minutos una tasa de 0 euros cuando este se obtenía a través de la App y de 0,10 euros si el tique se había adquirido en el parquímetro. Esta previsión, de acuerdo con la respuesta remitida, no contradecía lo recogido en la Ordenanza de Tráfico y Aparcamiento. 

El Ararteko requirió al Ayuntamiento que precisase las razones por las que en su Ordenanza fiscal había otorgado un diferente tratamiento a ambas situaciones. Y le recordó la obligación de resolver expresamente las solicitudes de la persona interesada.

Como única respuesta, el Área de Movilidad y Sostenibilidad nos trasladó que: “se intenta con esta medida fomentar y promocionar el uso de la APP con la idea de ir sustituyendo de manera gradual los parquímetros con el fin de ir avanzando en las políticas de accesibilidad”.

No es objeto de esta queja ciudadana analizar si la ordenanza fiscal se ha aprobado de acuerdo con el procedimiento que establece la regulación de las Haciendas Locales, sino si sus previsiones son compatibles con la garantía del derecho de igualdad. Es decir, si el modo de obtener la autorización para poder estacionar en la zona OTA -utilización de un parquímetro o de una App- constituye un criterio suficiente que justifique un distinto tratamiento en la cuota a abonar en un tributo o si, por el contrario, esta diferencia resulta contraria al principio de igualdad.

La justificación de este beneficio, según ha expresado el Ayuntamiento de Bilbao, reside en la promoción y fomento del uso de esta App para el pago de la OTA, con la idea de ir suprimiendo gradualmente los parquímetros instalados en la vía pública y así, mejorar la accesibilidad en la ciudad.

Hay que tener presente que, si bien la digitalización de la Administración y de la propia sociedad está avanzando de una forma exponencial, a las administraciones públicas también les corresponde remover los obstáculos para que nadie quede excluido en ese proceso y, en consecuencia, les compete adoptar las medidas de promoción que permitan salvar la brecha digital de las personas que, por razones económicas o de capacitación digital, no pueden acceder a dichos medios. Sin embargo, no puede afirmarse que la medida adoptada se alinee con el objetivo de reducir la brecha digital.

El Ararteko recomienda al Ayuntamiento de Bilbao modifique la tarifa general de la tarjeta horaria de aparcamiento, ya que así configurada contraviene el principio de igualdad y el de capacidad económica.

Vitoria-Gasteiz, 15 de julio de 2022

Recomendaciones y resoluciones Prensa y comunicación Seguridad Noticias Notas de prensa


 

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The Ombudsman and the Minister of Education, Science and Sport underline the importance of education as the foundation for the exercise of other rights

Date of article: 13/07/2022

Daily News of: 19/07/2022

Country:  Slovenia

Author: Human Rights Ombudsman of Slovenia

Article language: en

Today, 13 July 2022, Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina held a getting-to-know-you meeting with Minister of Education, Science and Sport Dr Igor Papič, where the two men discussed a number of cases dealt with by the Ombudsman’s office and concerning the ministry’s area of work. Mr Svetina told the minister that his office had noticed a sharp increase in calls relating to social activities, which include education and sport – in fact, the number of calls increased by 100% in 2021 compared to the year before. The number of calls related to Covid-19 also increased, by almost 50%, with most of them referring to measures taken in education to combat the disease.

The Ombudsman and minister also discussed the effects of the pandemic on educational institutions, peer-to-peer violence among children, the issue of tuition fees and the challenges of educating children with special needs. ‘Education is a human right,’ said Svetina. ‘At the same time, it is an indispensable means of exercising other rights. It is a basic driver for lifting economically and socially deprived children out of poverty and enabling them to play a full part in the community,’ he added.

Mr Svetina also delivered a copy of the Ombudsman’s 2021 annual report to Dr Papič.

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Pašalić: Improved systemic protection against domestic violence

Date of article: 12/07/2022

Daily News of: 19/07/2022

Country:  Serbia

Author: Protector of Citizens - Ombudsman of Serbia

Article language: en

he Protector of Citizens determined that the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence has brought improvements in the system of protection against violence in family and in intimate partner relationships since the beginning of its implementation, but that there is room for additional improvements, primarily in the early response to this type of violence.

"In Serbia, victims of domestic violence, be it physical, psychological or economic, are mostly children, women and the elderly, who are often not even aware that they are victims of discrimination and abuse. This kind of treatment is not a matter of an individual family, as is the common understanding in our country, but of the whole society, because violence gives birth to either new bullies or new victims", said the Protector of Citizens, Zoran Pašalić.

Today, in an online address at the presentation of the Special Report of the Protector of Citizens on the work of coordination and cooperation groups in the area of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Niš, Pašalić said that there are noticeable improvements in the actions of the competent authorities regarding the protection of victims of domestic violence, but that there is room for improving their work.

"Violence should be recognized on time, so victims of violence should be empowered to report those who abuse them to the competent authorities. And then the competent authorities should effectively and efficiently provide the victims with full protection from the abusers", Pašalić said.

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Photo: Protector of Citizens

Deputy Protector of Citizens for Gender Equality, Jelena Stojanović, presenting the Special Report on the work of coordination and cooperation groups in the area of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Niš, said that the research of the Protector of Citizens has shown that taking prescribed measures in cases of domestic violence became more effective and timelier and that acting officers better recognize violence and its forms.

"The improvement is also reflected in terms of communication between the authorities responsible for recording, preventing and sanctioning domestic violence. On the other hand, under the Law on the Prevention of Violence in Family and in Intimate Partner Relationships, multi-sector professional trainings for representatives of the prosecution, police administrations and centres for social work that make up groups for coordination and cooperation, would contribute to the improvement of work of the competent authorities", said Stojanović.

The Special Report of the Protector of Citizens was prepared in cooperation with the Autonomous Women's Centre and the Forum of Judges of Serbia, within the project "Effective policies and harmonized practice in providing support and assistance to victims of domestic violence", supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

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EC: Improve the framework in which the Ombudsperson operate in Poland, taking into account European standards

Date of article: 15/07/2022

Daily News of: 15/07/2022

Country:  Poland

Author: Polish Ombudsman

Article language: en

  • The framework for the functioning of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Poland should be improved, taking into account European standards - recommends the European Commission
  • This is one of the seven recommendations included in the EC's Annual Rule of Law Report
  • The report is an essential element of the EU rule of law mechanism aimed at supporting the rule of law in the member states and preventing the emergence or escalation of problems.

On 13 March 2022 the European Commission published the third annual Rule of Law Report. The Report examines developments in four key areas for the rule of law: justice systems, the anti-corruption framework, media pluralism and freedom, and other institutional issues linked to checks and balances.
The publication includes an overview of the trends in the EU as a whole and 27 country chapters looking at developments in every Member State since July 2021.

Ombudsman plays a key role as a rule of law safeguard

In the report, the EC stresses that the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), Ombudspersons, equality bodies and other independent authorities have continued to play a role in the national system of checks and balances. In some Member States, the status of such authorities has been further strengthened.
In country chapter on Poland the Commission noted that the new Ombudsperson continues to play a key role as a rule of law safeguard, while constrained by limited resources. EC also noted that he was appointed with broad parliamentary support.
The report notes the strong involvement of the Office of the Ombudsman in humanitarian situation on the Polish-Belarusian border and in providing assistance to refugees from Ukraine.
The commission also noted that The Ombudsperson’s cooperation with state authorities remains difficult, including due to the authorities’ refusal to react to the Ombudsperson’s statements or to take into account his comments and recommendations as regards legislative drafts.
It has been emphasized that the Polish Ombudsman has the highest accreditation status (A) granted by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions of the United Nations (GANHRI). This means that its activities are fully compliant with the so-called UN Paris Principles. They set out internationally agreed minimum standards that must be met by national human rights institutions in order to be credible.
In the report, the Commission also informs that Polish "public authorities have not increased the budget of the CHR for 2022, thus limiting his ability to perform his role". In this respect, the EC report is based on information from the first half of 2021. It should be emphasized that in the second half of 2021, the CHR received additional funds for the year 2022. However, this is still insufficient in relation to the needs of the Office of the Commissioner.
In the chapter on Poland, multiple times the European Commission refers to speeches and positions presented by the Ombudsman on the issues discussed in the report.

Commission's recommendations to Poland

The report contains specific recommendations addressed to each Member State concerning the upholding of democratic values, human rights and the rule of law.
In recommendations addressed to Poland the EC recommends among others to improve the framework in which the Ombudsperson operate, taking into account European standards on Ombudsinstitutions.
The Commission, in addition to recalling the need to address the serious concerns relating to judicial independence, as well as the obligation to comply with the rule of law related rulings of the ECJ, the commitments made under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, and recalling the relevant country-specific recommendations under the European Semester, it is recommended to Poland to:

  • Separate the function of the Minister of Justice from that of the Prosecutor-General and ensure functional independence of the prosecution service from the Government.
  • Strengthen the existing integrity rules by introducing lobbying rules and a standardised online system for asset declarations of public officials and Members of Parliament.
  • Ensure independent and effective investigations and prosecutions, address the broad scope of immunities for top executives and abstain from introducing impunity clauses in legislation in order to enable a robust track record of high-level corruption cases.
  • Ensure that fair, transparent and non-discriminatory procedures are adhered to for the granting of operating licences to media outlets.
  • Strengthen the rules and mechanisms to enhance the independent governance and editorial independence of public service media taking into account European standards on public service media.
  • Ensure a more systematic follow-up to findings by the Supreme Audit Office and ensure a swift appointment of the College Members of the Supreme Audit Office.
  • Improve the framework in which civil society and the Ombudsperson operate, taking into account European standards on civil society and Ombudsinstitutions.

The recommendations are intended to encourage Member States to take forward ongoing or planned reforms and help them identify where improvements are needed. Subsequent editions of the Rule of Law Report will look at the follow-up given to the recommendations.
The annual Rule of Law Report is the result of close dialogue with national authorities and stakeholders, and covers all Member States on an objective and impartial basis, looking at the same issues. The report is at the centre of the European Rule of Law Mechanism which is a yearly cycle to promote the rule of law and prevent problems from emerging or deepening.

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