Ombudsman comments on CQC report on University Hospitals Birmingham

Date of article: 08/03/2024

Daily News of: 08/03/2024

Country:  United Kingdom

Author: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

Article language: en

Ombudsman Rob Behrens comments on the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) investigation of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB). The CQC has told the Trust that it needs to make improvements, especially around its culture, following inspections carried out in August and October last year.

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Rob Behrens said:

“This report reinforces what I have long been saying about patient and staff welfare and the culture at University Hospitals Birmingham. While we have seen signs of improvement when working with the Trust, there is further evidence here that change has not been fundamental and it is failing to learn from mistakes.

“It’s a real cause for concern to see that the dedicated staff working hard to deliver expert care do not feel safe and are still concerned about bullying. People are worried about speaking out for fear of repercussions.

“Those working at the Trust should be treated fairly and feel valued. They should be able to raise concerns and feel confident that when they do, they will be listened to. Real change is needed, but for that to happen the Trust must start listening and learning from mistakes to make sure patient safety incidents are not repeated.”

 
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8 de marzo, en defensa de las mujeres que están en los márgenes.

Date of article: 08/03/2024

Daily News of: 08/03/2024

Country:  Spain - Galicia

Author: Regional Ombudsman of Galicia

Article language: es

Celebrar el pasado, planificar el futuro, uno de los temas de mayor impacto en las celebraciones de NU del 8 de marzo, en 1996, sigue estando más vigente que nunca en un momento en donde se confirma la construcción de un futuro donde la igualdad de género está suponiendo la mayor transformación colectiva para la humanidad en este siglo XXI.

Es imprescindible destacar la importancia de tener en cuenta y atender a las situaciones de discriminación por razón de género en las mujeres tradicionalmente dejadas al margen. Desde la Valedora do Pobo apostamos por un criterio de la interseccionalidad que vincula y reconoce las causas que producen esas diferencias de clase, raza, género…porque si no se identifican, no se pueden combatir las vulneraciones de los derechos de las mujeres que están en los márgenes. Es preciso situarlas en el centro de las políticas públicas: mujeres con adicciones, migrantes, con discapacidad, rurales, de etnias minorizadas, mujeres con vulnerabilidad económica, monomarentales, trans, sometidas a trata, sufridoras de violencia de género…y hay que hacerlo como un ejercicio central delas instituciones que tenemos el deber y la misión de defender los derechos humanos.

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Already acquired women’s rights need to be constantly strived and fought for

Date of article: 08/03/2024

Daily News of: 08/03/2024

Country:  Slovenia

Author: Human Rights Ombudsman of Slovenia

Article language: en

Upon International Women’s Day celebrated on 8 March, Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina emphasises that it is high time that we do away with historically rooted stereotypes regarding the role of women in society and finally move from declarative statements to actions and do everything in our power for the equal role of women in society. “The still unjust and unequal position of women is in its worst light reflected in the indecently low pensions of older women. To decrease inequalities based on gender, numerous measures need to be taken, while raising awareness about women’s rights and gender equality must start in early childhood and continue within life-long learning. Only a society in which awareness about gender equality is on a high level can decrease one of the most frequent violations of rights, that is violence against women,” says Ombudsman Svetina.

Everyone in society must have zero tolerance for all forms of violence against women. “Much of the violence unfortunately still remains hidden from the eyes of the public, while victims fear reporting the perpetrators due to the lack of an effective system of victim protection. We at the Ombudsman have been warning those responsible for years that for the prevention of violence, the support for victims after they report violence and in subsequent procedures is crucial. Also important is the continuous training of employees in bodies competent for reporting and punishing violence so that their actions can be professional, timely, and compassionate. Competent institutions should in particular investigate every case of femicide in Slovenia, with the purpose to adopt special measures for its prevention,” stresses the Human Rights Ombudsman.

We must be aware that the previously acquired rights of women are not something that can be taken for granted, but need to be constantly strived and fought for. “In the light of equalising the possibilities and increased inclusion of women in everyday life, it is our common responsibility to encourage change that changes the relations of power in the direction of equality and the elimination of stereotypes and prejudice about social roles. We call on the competent decision-makers to remove the reservations Slovenia made to the Istanbul Convention of the Council of Europe on the prevention of violence against women and domestic violence as well as the fight against them as soon as possible,” adds Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina.

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Public Defender Visits Penitentiary Establishment No. 8

Date of article: 07/03/2024

Daily News of: 08/03/2024

Country:  Georgia

Author: Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia

Article language: en

On March 7, 2024, Public Defender Levan Ioseliani met with part of the life sentence prisoners placed in Penitentiary Establishment No. 8 (Gldani), who have undergone a 2-year preparatory programme for parole and commutation.

The Public Defender got interested in the effectiveness of the programme, as well as the realization of convicts’ rights in the court during the process of commutation of the unserved part of the sentence and conditional release.

The Public Defender will continue to meet with life sentence prisoners and actively monitor the release preparation programme, as well as the parole/sentence commutation process.

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Insediato il Difensore Civico Avv. Umberto di Primio

Date of article: 07/03/2024

Daily News of: 08/03/2024

Country:  Italy - Abruzzo

Author: Regional Ombudsman of Abruzzo

Article language: it

Lo scorso 26 febbraio si è insediato il nuovo Difensore civico regionale Umberto Di Primio che è stato ricevuto nella sede pescarese dell'Assemblea legislativa dal presidente del Consiglio regionale, dalla dirigente Michela Leacche e dalla funzionaria Emiliana Di Sabato.

Di Primio, 56 anni, avvocato, è stato eletto con 17 voti dal Consiglio regionale nel corso della seduta del 30 gennaio. “Domani – ha spiegato Di Primio – sarò all'Aquila per conoscere il personale che lavora nella sede di Palazzo dell'Emiciclo. Si tratta di incontri utili per avere il quadro della situazione così da mettersi subito al lavoro; in quest'ottica stiamo già ragionando anche su una riorganizzazione funzionale degli uffici. Gli obiettivi da raggiungere nell'immediato sono due. Innanzitutto far sì che aumenti tra i cittadini la conoscenza della figura e dei compiti del Difensore civico. Di pari passo, reputo importante avviare una proficua interlocuzione tra le amministrazioni sulle quali esercita la propria funzione il Difensore civico al fine di facilitare il rapporto tra esse e i cittadini ”.

Si ricorda che l’attività del Difensore civico regionale è finalizzata a garantire l’effettivo rispetto dei principi di buon andamento, imparzialità, legalità, trasparenza, efficienza ed efficacia dell’azione amministrativa. Per la tutela dei principi di trasparenza e di accesso agli atti amministrativi, presenti nel nostro ordinamento, sono affidati al Difensore civico regionale: il riesame del denegato accesso agli atti, espresso o tacito, da parte di una pubblica amministrazione locale; i ricorsi avverso il denegato accesso civico; i ricorsi dei controinteressati avverso l’accoglimento della richiesta di accesso civico.

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