El Ararteko se une a la conmemoración del Día del Pueblo Gitano en Euskadi y celebra la aportación enriquecedora de la comunidad gitana a la vida social, cultural y económica del pueblo vasco a lo largo de más de 600 años de interrelación, así como los avances de las últimas décadas realizados por la participación e implicación del Consejo para la Promoción Integral y para la Participación Social del Pueblo Gitano.

Saluda el reciente Acuerdo del Consejo de la Unión Europea de 9 de octubre pasado, que reconoce la existencia de una situación crítica del pueblo gitano con respecto a la vivienda, y admite la falta de progresos a la hora de abordar este problema. Por ello, la Unión Europea ha diseñado una batería de medidas destinadas a garantizar el acceso igualitario de la población gitana a una vivienda adecuada y no segregada, y a solventar la espinosa cuestión de los asentamientos segregados, dedicando a su erradicación recursos financieros provenientes de los fondos europeos para mantener o mejorar infraestructuras necesarias en barrios desfavorecidos.

Asimismo, el Ararteko considera relevante invitar en este día al cumplimiento pleno de la Estrategia Vasca con el pueblo gitano y, más específicamente, de las recomendaciones contenidas en  su  Estudio del Ararteko sobre Discriminación y políticas públicas antidiscriminatorias en la CAE. Entre ellas, la adopción de   medidas que permitan ofrecer una imagen más real y adecuada de la población gitana con reconocimiento de su cultura, y de su participación activa en la sociedad vasca. Además, reclama una aplicación efectiva de las medidas legales previstas para luchar contra el antigitanismo y contra la discriminación que aún padecen los gitanos y las gitanas.  Sin un compromiso firme por revertir la dignidad robada, se perpetuará la injusticia histórica hacia el pueblo gitano, en detrimento de la cohesión social en nuestro país. 

In ihrer Funktion als Generalsekretärin des Internationalen Ombudsmann Institute empfing Volksanwältin Gaby Schwarz zu zwei Arbeitsgesprächen den slowakischen Ombudsmann Róbert Dobrovodský und den tschechischen Ombudsmann Stanislav Křeček in der Volksanwaltschaft.

„Der Austausch mit internationalen Amtskollegen, vor allem aus unseren Nachbarländern, ist mir ein großes Anliegen. Nur indem wir eng zusammenarbeiten, können wir grenzübergreifend weitere Verbesserungen erzielen, wenn es um den Schutz und die Förderung der Menschenrechte geht“, so Gaby Schwarz. Erörtert wurde u.a. ein vertiefender Erfahrungsaustausch in der Tätigkeit als Nationaler Präventionsmechanismus und Nationale Menschenrechtsinstitution.

Marino Fardelli in qualità di Presidente del Coordinamento Nazionale dei Difensori Civici e Difensore Civico della Regione Lazio ha partecipato a un incontro cruciale a Bruxelles con la Vice Presidente del Parlamento Europeo, On. Pina Picierno. L’incontro si è svolto nella cornice stimolante della capitale europea e ha rappresentato un’opportunità unica per discutere questioni fondamentali riguardanti la tutela dei diritti dei cittadini a livello europeo, la figura del Difensore Civico e appuntamenti da mettere in calendario in Italia sul tema della difesa civica e Europa.

La conversazione ha spaziato su diversi temi di rilevanza europea, compresi gli sforzi per rafforzare la partecipazione civica, promuovere la trasparenza e migliorare la tutela dei diritti dei cittadini in tutta l’Unione Europea. La Vice Presidente Picierno ha accolto con favore il contributo del Difensore Civico, riconoscendo l’importanza di collaborazioni simili nel promuovere una cittadinanza attiva e consapevole.

L’incontro ha rappresentato un passo significativo verso la costruzione di ponti di comprensione e collaborazione tra il Difensore Civico e le istituzioni europee. L’On. Pina Picierno ha sottolineato l’importanza di continuare a lavorare insieme per garantire un’Europa più forte e inclusiva, dove i diritti fondamentali di tutti i cittadini sono al centro dell’agenda politica e dove la difesa civica e il ruolo del Mediatore Europeo sia più vicino ai cittadini.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman, Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon, held a significant meeting with the Ambassador of Ireland to Malta, H.E. Caroline Whelan, at the Office of the Ombudsman.

The meeting brought to light the mutual interests and common aspects between Malta and Ireland, each an island state within the European Union, upholding neutrality, and possessing strong bases in the Ombudsman Institution.

A principal topic of discussion was the ongoing international crises in Ukraine and the Middle East.

On the Middle East, the Ombudsman reaffirmed his hope, already publicly expressed, for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the tragic loss of innocent lives, emphasising the necessity for enduring solutions to the root causes of these crises. He conveyed his belief that without such solutions, the crises would continue to result in loss for all parties involved.

Ambassador Whelan referred to her activities commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Ireland’s entry into the European Union. She expressed interest in the topics explored at the Ombudsman’s recent International Conference on this subject. The conference focused on integrating Article 41 of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights into local legislation, igniting conversations about the right to good administration. The Ombudsman mentioned his intention to hold talks with the public administration in Malta to follow up on the discussions initiated at the Malta Conference.

The Ombudsman reiterated his commitment to leveraging international relations to exchange practices and experiences. He highlighted the value of learning from other European and Mediterranean ombudsman institutions, promoting a cooperative approach to improving public service systems.

Moreover, the Ombudsman discussed his efforts to enhance the accessibility of the institution to all persons, physical or moral without any distinction of any sort, considering embassies as key stakeholders in this endeavour. He extended an invitation to the Embassy of Ireland to collaborate with the Office of the Ombudsman.  Ensuring that all p have a means to address any challenges they encounter with public services or government-owned entities.

The meeting between the Ombudsman and the Irish Ambassador marks a significant step in bolstering diplomatic relations. It demonstrates the Ombudsman’s dedication to serving all residents in Malta, regardless of their nationality.

Public Services Ombudsman for Wales publishes today a report on improvements made in administration of homelessness assessments by Welsh local authorities since the office’s investigation in 2021.

In 2021, the Ombudsman published the findings of its first ever ‘Own Initiative’ Investigation*, Homelessness Reviewed: an open door to positive change.

The report examined whether local authorities in Wales were meeting their statutory duties to ensure that homelessness assessments were carried out appropriately.  Local authorities in Wales have a duty to assess a person who presents themselves as homeless to see if the person is eligible for help. However, the Ombudsman became aware that a large proportion of these assessments were being challenged and overturned at review.

The 2021 report identified some systemic issues relating to the administration of these assessments at the three Investigated Authorities: Cardiff Council, Carmarthenshire County Council and Wrexham County Borough Council.

As a result, the Ombudsman made several recommendations to these Authorities. For wider learning, the Ombudsman invited the Welsh Government and the other 19 non-investigated authorities in Wales to consider the impact of the findings on homelessness services locally and to take action to improve homelessness services across Wales.

Two years on, the Ombudsman publishes a follow-up report on the progress made.

The Report shows that

• there has been a year-on-year increase of 10% in homelessness assessments being completed by Welsh local authorities.
• there has also been an increase in the percentage of assessments leading to a review. Although unexpected, this increase could also be due to more awareness of the option to challenge the assessment results.
• positively, compared to 2017/18, a smaller proportion of assessment decisions were seen to be overturned on review. This could be evidence of improved and more consistent decision making. However, the proportion of reviews overturned remains high and has not improved since 2021.
• some reasons why assessment decisions are still being overturned at review continue to be that there has been a change in circumstances, the property offered did not meet needs or that more investigation was required.

Positively, Welsh local authorities were able to demonstrate to the Ombudsman many improvements – for example, that

• homelessness officers across Wales have received more relevant training
• there has been more use of alternative communications methods (with use of video calls and chatbots currently explored by some local authorities)
• some key communication resources have been reviewed to ensure they are available in an accessible format.

However, it is disappointing that not all of the 19 non-investigated authorities have considered potential service improvements in light of our first Own Initiative report.

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

“Homelessness affects every member of society in some way; but the greatest impact is on the people, and their families, who are facing homelessness.

We welcome the positive action taken by the Investigated Authorities since 2021 which has improved homelessness service provision, its accessibility and communication with homelessness service users in these areas. As a result, relevant staff in the Investigated Authorities have received training in equality and human rights, which is central to homelessness decision making. 

Although we acknowledge that homelessness services continue to operate under significant pressure and sustained demands, there continues to be opportunities for some local authorities to improve their provision of homelessness services”.

The following have been identified by the Ombudsman as opportunities to improve homelessness services in Wales:

• Equality and human rights training for all homelessness service decision makers and officers.
• Overt consideration of equality and human rights in decision making.
• Empowering officers to identify mistakes and rectify decisions without the need for a Review, where appropriate.
• Collaboration between local authorities to drive consistency across Wales.
• Engagement and collaboration by local authorities with stakeholders and partners.

* The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales Act 2019 empowers the Ombudsman Wales to undertake ‘Own Initiative’ investigations where evidence suggests that there may be systemic service failure or maladministration.  This means the office can investigate a matter beyond its impact on an individual and without having to wait for a complaint.

Click here to read Homelessness Reviewed: Revisited.