Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea did not recognise the abuse a homeless man said he suffered because it did not consider the alleged perpetrator a ‘relative’.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has asked the council to apologise to the man for not recognising he was personally connected to his alleged abuser as well as to train its staff to avoid the issue happening again.

The man complained to the Ombudsman after the council left him sleeping rough when he fled the home he shared with his sibling and their spouse.

The council wrongly did not offer the man interim accommodation as he said he was staying with a friend. It failed to check how long he could stay there and whether it was settled accommodation. It took the council 11 weeks to tell the man it had accepted it had a duty to help prevent his homelessness with a Personalised Housing Plan (PHP).

Ms Amerdeep Somal said:

“The council’s delays in confirming what duty it owed the man, coupled with not recognising the alleged abuse he suffered, can only have caused him uncertainty and distress at a time of crisis

“During our investigation the council told us it has a significant backlog of cases requiring a Personalised Housing Plan. This is not good enough. These are important documents, required by law, which explain what the council will do, and what people themselves can do, to help prevent or relieve their homelessness – delays in providing them creates a real injustice to people at a vulnerable time in their lives.

“I welcome the action the council has told us it is taking to improve how it deals with people fleeing domestic abuse and the moves it is making to address the backlog in issuing PHPs. I have asked the council to report on this backlog to a relevant committee every quarter to ensure this is not left to drift.”

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman remedies injustice and shares learning from investigations to help improve public, and adult social care, services. In this case the council has agreed to apologise to the man and pay him a symbolic payment of £300 to recognise the distress and uncertainty caused. It will also review the homelessness duty owed to the man, notify him of the decision and his rights to seek a review.

The Ombudsman has the power to make recommendations to improve processes for the wider public. In this case the council has agreed to send written apologies to applicants affected by the delays in issuing PHPs and draw up an action plan for reducing the number of people waiting.

It will also ensure officers are aware of the legal definition of ‘personally connected’ and ‘relatives’.

Article date: 14 March 2024

Anche nel 2024 il Difensore civico ha ​incontrato i cittadini iscritti alle Università della terza età e del tempo disponibile trentine, nell'ambito del ciclo di lezioni "Il cittadino e le istituzioni", organizzate dalla Fondazione Demarchi. ​Gli appuntamenti si sono svolti il 12 febbraio a Novella (fraz. Romallo) e il 13 marzo a Predazzo, alla presenza di un pubblico numeroso e partecipe, interessato ai temi affrontati​​​​​​.

In particolare sono state illustrate le competenze del Difensore civico​, le modalità di intervento, nonché le speciali attribuzioni conferite dalla legge in materia di accesso agli atti amministrativi e della salute. Sono stati, inoltre, esposti dei casi, particolarmente significativi, affrontati recentemente dall'Ufficio nell'ambito dei tributi, dell'urbanistica, della sanità, della previdenza, degli aiuti economici, dell'edilizia pubblica, della trasparenza e della digitalizzazione dei servizi della Pubblica Amministrazione.​​

On 12 March, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) signed new agreements to strengthen its partnership and cooperation with two EU Agencies - Frontex and eu-Lisa.

The renewed working arrangement with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) builds on a longstanding cooperation between the two agencies. Through this arrangement, FRA will provide its fundamental rights expertise to support Frontex in complying with fundamental rights when working at the EU’s external borders and in return-related activities.   

FRA has also signed a new cooperation plan with the EU Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA). The plan focuses on exchanging expertise and know-how on protecting fundamental rights in the digital age as eu-LISA develops and rolls-out its large-scale IT systems.

13.03.2024 Petitionen — Ausschuss — hib 143/2024

Berlin: (hib/HAU) Der Petitionsausschuss spricht sich mehrheitlich gegen den Betrieb deutscher Kernkraftwerke aus. In der Sitzung am Mittwoch verabschiedete der Ausschuss mit den Stimmen der Ampelfraktionen von SPD, Grünen und FDP sowie der Gruppe Die Linke die Beschlussempfehlung an den Bundestag, das Petitionsverfahren zu der Forderung nach einem Weiterbetrieb deutscher Kernkraftwerke abzuschließen, da kein parlamentarischer Handlungsbedarf im Sinne der Eingabe zu erkennen sei. Sowohl die CDU/CSU-Fraktion als auch die AfD-Fraktion bewerteten das anders. Sie sprachen sich für eine Überweisung der Petition an die Bundesregierung mit dem höchstmöglichen Votum „zur Berücksichtigung“ aus.

In der aus dem Juli 2022 stammenden öffentlichen Petition (ID 1365760) wird für den Weiterbetrieb der deutschen Kernkraftwerke plädiert. Der Petent verweist auf die „Stuttgarter Erklärung“ vom 25. Juli 2022, in der 19 erstunterzeichnende aktive Professorinnen und Professoren deutscher Universitäten die sofortige Aufhebung der Atomausstiegs-Paragrafen im Atomgesetz und eine Prüfung der sicherheitstechnischen Betriebserlaubnis fordern, um deutschen Kernkraftwerken den Weiterbetrieb zu ermöglichen. Mit einseitiger Ausrichtung auf Sonne, Wind und Erdgas sei Deutschland in Energienot manövriert worden, heißt es in der Eingabe, die am 19. November 2022 in öffentlicher Sitzung durch den Petitionsausschuss beraten wurde. Steigende Energiepreise und sinkende Versorgungssicherheit gefährdeten Wettbewerbsfähigkeit und Wohlstand, schreibt der Petent. Das Festhalten am deutschen Atomausstieg verschärfe diese Gefahren und bremse - zusammen mit anhaltender Kohleverstromung - den internationalen Klimaschutz.

In der Begründung zu seiner Beschlussempfehlung geht der Petitionsausschuss auf die Gefahren durch einen Reaktorunfall und die Problematik der Endlagerung hochradioaktiver Abfälle ein. Die Möglichkeit von Unfällen mit großen radioaktiven Freisetzungen sei nicht völlig ausschließen, heißt es. Diese Erkenntnis sei durch die Reaktorkatastrophe von Fukushima im Jahre 2011 neuerlich bestätigt worden. Sie habe gezeigt, „dass die Risiken eines großen Unfalls nicht nur hypothetisch sind, sondern sich solche großen Unfälle sogar in einem Hochtechnologieland wie Japan ereignen können“.

Der Schutz von Leben, körperlicher Unversehrtheit, Gesundheit der Bevölkerung und der natürlichen Lebensgrundlagen auch für künftige Generationen gebiete, radioaktive Abfälle für „immer“ sicher von der Biosphäre getrennt aufzubewahren, heißt es weiter. Dabei stehe die mögliche Strahlenbelastung über sehr lange Zeiträume und damit die Langzeitsicherheit der erforderlichen Endlagerung im Vordergrund. Die geordnete Beendigung der Kernenergienutzung trage dazu bei, den Umfang des radioaktiven Abfalls zu begrenzen.

Verwiesen wird zudem darauf, dass der Petent die Gefährdung der Energieversorgung sowie steigende Energiepreise als Begründung für sein Anliegen angeführt habe. Festzustellen sei jedoch, dass die Energieversorgung gesichert sei und sich die Großhandelspreise stabilisiert hätten.

On 11 and 12 March 2024, Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina participated at the Fundamental Rights Forum 2024 in Vienna, organised by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). It is one of the larger events on human rights in Europe, in which politicians and high officials, representatives of national human rights institutions, non-governmental organisations, business, the arts, and many others participate. “Such events are important because they enable the exchange of opinions and standpoints among leaders of many segments of society regarding the most pressing aspects of human rights, which pertain to climate change, artificial intelligence, and other advanced technologies as well as threats to democracy in Europe,” stresses Ombudsman Svetina.

The Forum was held under the title Rights in motion: Embracing human rights for Europe’s future, primarily in three crucial areas: the significance of the protection of democracy and the civil society space in the European Union, climate change, and digitalisation. Participants agreed that civil society is key for the functioning of democracy and strengthening of human rights culture as well as supporting the rule of law. They also pointed out the efforts for the social and environmental sustainability of Europe. The climate crisis is strongly connected with human rights since it influences a wider spectrum of rights and reveals global inequality and social injustice. “Private companies also have a duty to protect human rights and the environment. Namely, it all too frequently happens in business practices that questions of the respect of human rights and environmental protection remain unnoticed. Hence, it is high time that on the level of the European Union, solid legislation is adopted that will demand from companies due diligence about the respect of human rights and environmental protection standards, and require accountability from those responsible in companies, and ensure victims have efficient legal protection,” highlighted the Ombudsman.

At the Forum, great emphasis was also placed on the providing digitalisation in accordance with rights. They warned about the importance of inclusive digitalisation, where protection of privacy, the fight against online fraud and violence, the fact that technological companies will not monopolise means, and digital literacy are crucial factors. The institution of the Human Rights Ombudsman supports non-governmental organisations that raise awareness and educate on digital tools, and strives for the accessibility of information for everyone, including those who are not skilled in the use of digital technologies.