When 26 January 2023

Where Tallinn, Estonia

External event

The Estonian Human Rights Centre will host a conference on artificial intelligence and human rights on 26 January in Tallinn.

VISIT EVENT SITE

The conference brings together leading experts on AI. They will discuss topics such as social change through AI, ethics and regulations, the potential and limitations of AI, the use of AI in war and policing, and how AI affects human rights and fundamental freedoms.

FRA will deliver a keynote speech, presenting the results of its reports on AI. This includes the most recent report on bias in algorithms.

FRA will also join a panel discussion on AI and security.

In a joint ENVI-AGRI public hearing on Tuesday 24 January, MEPs will debate bee-friendly agriculture for a healthy environment with initiators of the citizens’ initiative.

Following the submission of over 1 million verified signatures, Parliament is organising a public hearing on the successful European Citizens’ Initiative “Save bees and farmers! Towards a bee-friendly agriculture for a healthy environment” that calls for a phase out of synthetic pesticides by 2035, restoring biodiversity and support to farmers in this transition.

Where: Jozsef Antall building (Brussels), room 2Q2
When: Tuesday, 24 January 2023, 14.30-18.30

You can watch the hearing live here.

The hearing is hosted jointly by the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety in association with the Committee on Petitions.

Background
On 19 October 2021, Parliament adopted their position on the Farm to Fork Strategy to reform the EU’s food systems. MEPs highlighted the importance of producing sustainable and healthy food and to achieve the goals of the European Green Deal, including on climate, biodiversity, zero pollution and public health. They also underlined the need to ensure food security and a fair income for farmers.

Tempo di rinnovi per le convenzioni tra la difesa civica regionale e gli enti locali.

Sono, infatti, in scadenza le convenzioni sottoscritte nel 2020 (valide per un triennio): gli enti locali interessati (circa una quarantina), compresa la Città metropolitana di Bologna e anche tre Unioni di comuni, stanno procedendo al rinnovo di questo servizio che dal 2019 è completamente gratuito.

Alla data del 31 dicembre 2022 gli enti locali convenzionati, in maggioranza Comuni, erano in tutto 75.

“Queste convenzioni – spiega il Difensore civico Carlotta Marù – hanno l’intento di favorire la diffusione di buone prassi nella pubblica amministrazione e prevenire i contenziosi con i cittadini”. Negli anni passati, prosegue Marù, “sono stati affrontati e risolti, per fare solo alcuni esempi, problemi collegati all’utilizzo e all’applicazione degli strumenti urbanistici, al rilascio di autorizzazioni e permessi, all’applicazione del canone per l’occupazione di suolo pubblico e anche rispetto all’esame di quesiti referendari comunali”.

Agli enti locali convenzionati viene inviato materiale informativo sull’istituto del Difensore civico e su temi di particolare interesse da divulgare attraverso gli uffici aperti al pubblico (pubblicate qui  https://www.assemblea.emr.it/difensore-civico/per-approfondire/relazioni-annuali-e-pubblicazioni)

La difesa civica regionale è inoltre disponibile a supportare i segretari generali e i responsabili di procedimenti degli enti con la sua consulenza in materie complesse quali l’accesso agli atti e la tenuta dei dati personali.

Per informazioni su come stipulare la convenzione vai alla pagina https://www.assemblea.emr.it/difensore-civico/la-rete/enti-convenzionati.

Auf dem Gelände eines ehemaligen Freiluftsportplatzes im 2. Wiener Bezirk in der Venediger Au errichtet die Stadt Wien eine neue Fun- und Sporthalle. Diese Halle umfasst 3.600 Quadratmeter Fläche und soll 13 Meter hoch werden. Das Gelände auf dem gebaut wird hat dafür allerdings nicht die notwendige Flächenwidmung, weshalb die Wiener Baubehörde eine auf fünf Jahre befristete Ausnahmegenehmigung erteilt hat. Gegner des Projektes, darunter auch der stellvertretende Bezirksvorsteher des 2. Bezirkes, sind überzeugt, dass dieses Projekt rechtswidrig ist, weil die 15 Millionen Euro teure Halle ihrer Ansicht nach nicht nur vorübergehend dort stehen soll, sondern dauerhaft.

Volksanwältin Schwarz wurde in dieser Angelegenheit um Hilfe ersucht und diskutierte den Fall im Bürgeranwaltsstudio an der Seite des stellvertretenden Bezirksvorstehers des 2. Wiener Gemeindebezirkes und mit einem Experten für Baurecht. Der Chef der Wiener Baupolizei, der das Projekt verteidigte, nahm per Intervieweinspielung an der Sendung teil.

„Das Ganze ist nicht illegal, aber unserer Ansicht nach nicht rechtens“, so die Volksanwältin. Schwarz weiter: „Es geht darum, dass hier eine Widmung für einen vorübergehenden Zweck erteilt wurde. Es sieht aber so aus, als gehe es eben nicht um eine Befristung, sondern um eine dauerhafte Lösung.“ Der geladene Experte für Baurecht kam in seinem Gutachten ebenfalls zum Schluss, dass das Projekt nicht rechtens sei. Volksanwältin Schwarz: „Die Bauordnung sieht eine völlig klare Reihenfolge vor. Zuerst Widmung, dann Baubewilligung, dann Errichtung des Bauwerks. Ich glaube kaum, dass ein privater Bauwerber so vorgehen kann, dass er eine befristete Bewilligung erhält, bis die passende Widmung durch ist.“

Bei dringenden Bauvorhaben werde immer wieder einmal auf so eine Ausnahmegenehmigung zurückgegriffen, argumentierte der Leiter der Baupolizei. Das sei im öffentlichen Interesse. Bei Prüfung einer solchen Ausnahmegenehmigung stehe aber die Prüfung, ob diesem Vorhaben andere öffentliche Interessen entgegenstehen im Vordergrund, so der Baurechtsexperte. Die Erhaltung des Grünraums sei oberstes Gebot und das wurde auch seitens der Stadt im sogenannten Leitbild zum Schutz von Grünräumen so festgelegt. In diesem Leitbild aus dem Jahr 2020 wird festgehalten, dass genau diese Grünfläche nicht nur erhalten, sondern verbessert werden solle. Volksanwältin Schwarz dazu: „Es ist unbenommen, dass es wichtig ist, einer sportlichen Betätigung nachzugehen. Dafür allerdings 37 Prozent eines schützenswerten Gebiets zu verbauen, was dann auch noch dem eigenen Leitbild widerspricht, erschließt sich mir nicht.“ Auch eben dieses Leitbild sei rechtlich verpflichtend, da es vom Wiener Gemeinderat beschlossen wurde, so der Baurechtsexperte.

„Die Volksanwaltschaft wird die Situation weiter beobachten und sehen wie sich die Sache entwickelt. Letztendlich bliebe bei erheblichen Bedenken gegen die Widmung noch die Möglichkeit sich an den Verfassungsgerichtshof zu wenden“, so die Volksanwältin abschließend.

Grundstück ohne Zufahrt – kann der fehlende Weg zu einem Grundstück am Irrsee nun endlich errichtet werden?

Herr R. hat ein Grundstück beim Irrsee geerbt und möchte dort ein Haus bauen. Weil aber das Grundstück von einer als „Grünland“ gewidmeten Fläche umgeben ist, kann er die vorgeschriebene Zufahrt nicht errichten. Mehrmals forderte die Volksanwaltschaft bereits in der Sendung „Bürgeranwalt“ eine Umwidmung, die einen Straßenbau ermöglicht. Dieses Mal gibt es gute Neuigkeiten, denn die notwendige Umwidmung wurde durchgeführt und auch bewilligt. „Die jahrelangen Bemühungen des ORF und der Volksanwaltschaft haben Früchte getragen und es ist gelungen endlich die Bewilligung zur Umwidmung zu erhalten, was ein großer Erfolg ist“, erklärte Volksanwältin Schwarz.

The Health Board failed to adequately assess the patient’s clinical history and new symptoms and did not admit him to the ITU after surgery which ultimately led to his deterioration and death, according to a public interest report issued on Friday by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.

The Ombudsman launched an investigation after Miss X complained about the care and treatment that her late father, received at University Hospital of Wales in March 2020.  Her father, Mr Y, went to the Emergency Department with symptoms of obstructed hernia* and bowel obstruction**. However, he was discharged without being adequately assessed. Two days later, he was admitted to the Hospital, but sadly died a few days later after emergency surgery.

The Ombudsman found that when Mr Y was first admitted the Health Board did not adequately consider his clinical history and new symptoms. All these symptoms pointed to an acute obstructed hernia which needed treatment – yet the patient was discharged. When he was admitted to hospital two days later, his condition was not promptly diagnosed, which led to a delay in an emergency surgery. Also, although he was very unwell following the surgery, he was not moved to the Intensive Care Unit, which could have increased his chances of survival. Had these failings not occurred, the outcome might have been different.

The Ombudsman took account of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic had on the Health Board’s ability to deliver care and treatment.  However, she decided that the shortcomings in the care that the patient received from the Health Board amounted to a serious service failure, resulting in grave injustice for him and his family.

Commenting on the report, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, Michelle Morris, said:

“Mr Y was admitted to hospital at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during a profoundly difficult time for the Health Board and its staff. However, he was an emergency case and did not receive the standard of care he should have.”

“I am saddened to conclude that, had these clinical failings not occurred and had the patient received appropriate care following surgery, his deterioration and death, on balance, might have been prevented.” 

“When complaining to us, Miss X told us that the family’s lives had been destroyed and they still did not have answers. I have no doubt that the findings of this report will be a source of great distress to her and her family.”

“I am pleased that the Health Board has accepted my recommendations in full.”

The Ombudsman recommended that Cardiff and Vale University Health Board should provide a written apology to Miss X for the failings identified in her report.

In addition, the Ombudsman recommended that the Health Board should:

• review with relevant staff how hernias are assessed and diagnosed and produce an action plan based on the outcomes of that review and share it with the Ombudsman and any clinical department for which the findings may be relevant.
• share the Ombudsman’s report with the Clinical Director responsible for the relevant clinicians involved in Mr Y’s care, and make sure that they reflect upon and directly discuss its findings.

*A hernia happens when an internal part of the body pushes through a weakness in the muscle or surrounding tissue wall.  An inguinal hernia is the most common type of hernia and can appear as a swelling or lump in the groin, or as an enlarged scrotum (the pouch containing the testicles).  The swelling may be painful.

**A bowel obstruction is a condition in which the bowels cannot work properly due to a narrowing of the bowel