Felipe VI ha visitado este lunes la institución Defensor del Pueblo con ocasión de la celebración de su 40 aniversario y de la toma de posesión de su primer titular, Joaquín Ruiz-Giménez. Se trata de la primera visita al Defensor del Pueblo que realiza como Rey. A la misma ha asistido la ministra de Justicia, Pilar LLop.

Felipe VI ha recorrido la sede de la institución y ha mantenido una reunión con el titular del Defensor del Pueblo, Ángel Gabilondo, con las adjuntas primera y segunda, Teresa Jiménez-Becerril y Patricia Bárcena, y con los directores de Área de la casa. Tras la reunión, firmó en el libro de honor y se dirigió al personal del Defensor del Pueblo, con el que departió posteriormente en un encuentro informal.

Ángel Gabilondo ha agradecido la presencia del Rey, quien, “además de ser símbolo de la unidad y permanencia del Estado, nos alienta en el cumplimiento de nuestros deberes, tanto como en la puesta en valor de nuestros derechos”. El Defensor ha señalado que esta visita “constituye para todos nosotros una acción de gran relevancia personal, institucional y constitucional”. Y ha subrayado que no se trata de una mera visita protocolaria sino que se ha centrado en una reunión de trabajo para incidir en el compromiso con los derechos fundamentales y los derechos humanos.

The Ombudsman drew the attention of the Secretary of State for Education to the need to conclude the regularization process of specialized technicians who guarantee training activities in state schools.

After examining several complaints, it was noted that, despite the Extraordinary Regularization Program for Temporary Contracts in the Public Administration (PREVPAP) having begun in 2017, many trainers in schools, who were recognized as meeting permanent public needs, are still awaiting the launch of tenders that will enable them to conclude contracts for an indefinite period of time. And, unlike what happened with the majority of other specialized technicians in schools, they remain in a precarious employment situation, with fixed-term contracts of annual duration.

These technicians work as trainers, for example in adult education and training courses (EFA courses) and in professional courses taught in public schools.

The letter addressed to the Secretary of State for Education can be read here [in Portuguese only]

Pressegespräch am 18.1. in der Volksanwaltschaft

Nach dem Terroranschlag am 2. November 2020 untersuchte auch die Volksanwaltschaft die Vorgänge im BVT bzw. DSN. Im Fokus des Prüfverfahrens stand die Frage, ob die Reaktionen der Sicherheitsbehörden auf die Information des versuchten Waffenkaufs durch den späteren Attentäter K.F. angemessen waren und ob etwa die Staatsanwaltschaft rechtzeitig eingebunden worden ist.

Ziel war nicht, für andere, parallel verlaufende Untersuchungen ein Präjudiz zu schaffen, sondern im Sinne des verfassungsmäßigen Auftrags der Volksanwaltschaft zu prüfen, ob ein Missstand in der Verwaltung dafür ursächlich war.

Wann: Mittwoch, 18.1.2023, 10.00 Uhr

Ort: Volksanwaltschaft, 1010 Wien, Singerstr. 17

The Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia Peter Svetina is concerned about the alarming state of the lack of family doctors. “I am shocked by the events revolving around the selection of family doctors, especially the latest events at the Community Health Centre Ljubljana. I was overwhelmed by the long line of people standing in front of the Bežigrad unit of the Community Health Centre Ljubljana when I arrived at work this morning. I find it hard to understand that in the age of digitalisation, when the majority of services can be performed on-line, long queues of people can be formed in the middle of the night in front of a healthcare centre, all of whom need to select a family physician,” stresses the Ombudsman.

The right to healthcare is a fundamental human right guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia. It is not an above standard, but rather the most basic right derived from the mandatory health insurance. The state is responsible for the efficient execution of healthcare services, and must put in place an appropriately functioning network of healthcare services on the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. Using appropriate measures it also has to ensure that all people receive the necessary preventive and curative healthcare measures at the time they need them,” believes the Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina. He accentuates that access to physicians and quality treatment are the key elements of healthcare, hence he has acted in accordance with his competences and called upon the Municipality of Ljubljana and the management of the Community Health Centre Ljubljana to provide explanations and swift action. He also expects that those responsible on the state level stop shifting blame from one to another and start collaborating fruitfully for the benefit of patients. The current state is, in Ombudsman Svetina’s belief, another example of grave and systematic violation of citizens’ rights.

On Human Rights Day, 10 December, the FRA Director delivered the annual distinguished guest lecture at Leiden University.

READ THE SPEECH

In his speech, he outlined the many crises facing societies across the European Union, and how they are exacerbating issues already faced by the human rights system. This includes the repudiation of rights, the erosion of democratic institutions and the persistence of human rights violations.

The Director illustrated six responses to take to revitalise human rights, including through building alliances, relying on obligations and entitlements that are grounded in law, using evidence and data as a basis for demands, supporting local activism, using impactful communication methods and providing human rights education.

The audience was made up of around 70 attendees. There were policymakers, academics, civil society, human rights practitioners and champions, and students.