The Complaint

Farmers lodged a complaint against the placement of a bottle return machine which was blocking a water pipe. This pipe directed rainwater to their reservoir in Mqabba.

The Investigation

The Commissioner discovered that the Planning Authority had not yet issued a permit for this machine. He requested the exercise of common sense by moving the machine a few meters to enable the free flow of rainwater into the farmers’ reservoir. Weeks of inaction during the rainy season led the Commissioner to suggest relocating the machine away from the inlet as soon as possible or temporarily elevating it on masonry blocks to facilitate water flow.

After the Local Council brought up the farmers’ right to collect water from the street, the Commissioner emphasised that it was inappropriate to question the farmers’ water-collection rights, especially as the local farmers were responsibly collecting and reusing rainwater. The Local Council should instead promote and assist similar initiatives.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The Commissioner reiterated that this machine should be moved and further recommended compensation for the farmers’ loss of water. He also suggested enforcement action by both the Planning Authority and the Police.

Outcome

Following immediate intervention by the Police, the machine was relocated. The Planning Authority then introduced sanctions into the relevant permit application process.

At the invitation of Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary Dr. Ákos Kozma, this year’s international conference of the Turkic States Ombudsman Association was held in Hungary. In the framework of the first TÜRKOMB meeting held in Hungary, the ombudspersons of the Republic of Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan got first-hand information on the direct legal and humanitarian support provided to the persons fleeing the war in Ukraine by the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary in Beregsurány. During the several-day visit, the members of the Turkic delegation were provided information on the operation of the regional offices of AJBH (the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary) in Debrecen and they held coordination talks, among others, with President of the Constitutional Court Dr. Tamás Sulyok, State Secretary for Security Policy and Energy Security of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Dr. Péter Sztáray, as well as with the heads of police and prison services.

As part of the first TÜRKOMB meeting in Hungary, Chief Ombudsman of Türkiye Mr. Şeref Malkoç, Ombudsman for Regional Administration of Türkiye Mr. Sadettin Kalkan, Azerbaijani Ombudsperson Ms. Sabina Aliyeva, Ombudsperson of Uzbekistan Ms. Feruza Eshmatova, as well as Head of Cabinet of the Kazakh ombudsman institution Ms. Alua Nadirkulova arrived in Hungary.

The delegation of the association comprising the ombudspersons of Turkic states, accompanied by the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary Dr. Ákos Kozma, held professional discussions with Lieutenant General, Director General of the Hungarian Prison Service Headquarters Dr. Tamás Tóth, as well as Police Brigadier General, Chief of the Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County Police Headquarters Mr. József Farkas.

The international delegation paid a visit to the Debrecen Regional Office of the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary and the Hungarian-Ukrainian border section, to the Beregsurány border-crossing point, help point and temporary ombudsman office.

Dr. Ákos Kozma told the Turkic ombudspersons about the circumstances of receiving the persons fleeing the war in Ukraine and the measures taken in order to help them, as well as the work and experience of the ombudsman information desks established for providing direct legal and humanitarian support to them, along with the operation of the Debrecen Regional Office of AJBH.

The Commissioner for Fundamental Rights underlined that “this is the first time that the delegation of the Turkic States Ombudsman Association has paid an official visit to Hungary. The Hungarian ombudsman institution is ready to share the experience and good practices gained in the recent years in the different areas of fundamental rights protection with our Turkic colleagues. This holds true for both the issues of the general ombudsman rights protection activities and our fundamental rights protection areas of a special focus, among which the fundamental rights aspects of police complaints, issues related to equal treatment, disability-related matters or child protection bear key significance.

The members of the TÜRKOMB delegation and Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary Dr. Ákos Kozma planted memorial trees on the territory of Szombathelyi Erdészeti Zrt on the occasion of the first meeting of the organisation in Hungary, and they paid a professional visit to the Veszprém County Remand Prison.

The several-day programme was concluded by the International Conference of the Turkic States Ombudsman Association in Budapest. 
 

Il Garante Giancarlo Giulianelli fa il punto della situazione con i rappresentanti delle associazioni. Nel corso dell’incontro prese in esame diverse problematiche sulle quali si sta lavorando per trovare una soluzione

Il Garante Giancarlo Giulianelli fa il punto della situazione con i rappresentanti delle associazioni di volontariato che operano negli istituti penitenziari marchigiani. “Realtà insostituibile – come la definisce – che opera con dedizione sopperendo in molti casi alle numerose criticità che gravano sull’intero sistema”.

Nel corso dell’incontro prese in esame diverse problematiche sulle quali si sta lavorando per trovare una soluzione. In primo piano, ancora una volta, la questione sanitaria collegata in modo diretto alla carenza di personale.

A Montacuto e Barcaglione si registrano delle disfunzioni per quanto riguarda la prenotazione delle visite esterne in relazione a patologie che richiedono controlli periodici. A monte di tale situazione l’impossibilità di poter garantire una scorta, considerato il non sufficiente numero degli agenti di polizia penitenziaria presenti negli istituti. Altra questione quella legata all’attività dei patronati che, anche dopo l’emergenza pandemica, hanno difficoltà ad entrare in carcere e non c’è quindi la possibilità di attivare le certificazioni necessarie per le invalidità, gli aggravamenti delle patologie, le pensioni da attivare in presenza di condizioni particolari.

Anche il Sio (Sportello informativo e di orientamento) di Ancona stenta a soddisfare tutte le esigenze a cui, nei limiti delle possibilità, fa fronte il volontariato largamente inteso.

In sede di Conferenza nazionale del volontariato in carcere sarà affrontata, quanto prima, anche la questione inerente le telefonate che i detenuti possono fare alle famiglie, ipotizzandone una alla settimana invece che ogni quindici giorni come previsto attualmente.

Per quanto riguarda le attività trattamentali, mentre in alcuni istituti possono vantare un andamento costante e positivo, in altri stentano a partire o sono assenti, sia per mancanza di fondi che di spazi adeguati. In primo piano i casi di Marino del Trono e Fermo, sui quali più volte si è soffermato il Garante.

Da considerare, non da ultimo, che per quanto riguarda l’istituto di Ascoli Piceno viene a mancare ormai da tempo una titolarità effettiva nella direzione, che viene esercitata contemporaneamente con quella di Fermo. Nota positiva è che sono state finalmente nominate in pianta stabile le educatrici.

Nel complesso attraverso tutti gli interventi è stata ribadita la necessità di iniziative che tendano ad aumentare la qualità della vita in carcere e che diano sostanza alla sua valenza rieducativa.

“È un presupposto fondamentale – dice il Garante – se vogliamo dare una seconda opportunità a chi ha sbagliato e se vogliamo che il suo reinserimento nella società sia effettuato con equilibrio e consapevolezza onde evitare ulteriori errori”.

A.Is.

The Office of the Ombudsman participated in the Plenary Session of the Local Councils Association, marking the 30th anniversary of local government. At the event, the Office of the Ombudsman showcased a dedicated stand. It offered information about its roles, services, and the support it can provide to local councils in their interactions with government departments. This initiative was part of a broader series of outreach initiatives undertaken by the Office. The intent behind these efforts is to bring the Office of the Ombudsman closer to the public, helping to improve the overall effectiveness of public administration.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman, Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon, was among the attendees. He visited the stand and interacted with mayors and councillors from various localities.

Support for human rights systems and defenders

Fundamental rights have weathered multiple storms recently as various crises impact Europe and the wider world. Participants at a high-level conference drew lessons from crises, past and present, and charted a way forward to make human rights structures more resilient.

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Participants identified ways in which institutional actors could be better prepared for crises and protect fundamental rights, especially for people at risk. The proposals are aimed at all levels of government, independent human rights bodies and civil society organisations.

Suggestions included empowering rightsholders, building partnerships, improving engagement with and trust in institutions and authorities, as well as the use of effective communication and smart regulation. Smart regulation includes human rights impact assessments, human rights due diligence and reporting, as well as access to effective remedies for rightsholders.

The outcome report, compiled by the Swedish Presidency, explains in greater detail the main proposals made by participant

1. strengthening and enforcing legal frameworks to maintain human rights standards;

    

2. maintaining an enabling environment for human rights actors;

    

3. engage rightsholders in developing crisis responses;

    

4. promoting cooperation and building partnerships;

    

5. supporting States in complying with fundamental rights in times of crisis.

    

6. The high-level conference on institutional protection of fundamental rights in times of crises took place in Lund, Sweden, on 20 and 21 April 2023.

    

   The Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, in cooperation with the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), organised the event.