La città di Cassino insieme alla millenaria Abbazia di Montecassino sono pronte ad accogliere la II Edizione Italiana della Conferenza Internazionale degli Ombudsman, che si svolgerà nei giorni 12 e 13 settembre 2014. Questo prestigioso evento vedrà la partecipazione di difensori civici, esperti di settore, relatori di alto livello provenienti da tutto il mondo e anche una delegazione di studenti di Università straniere.

Ad oggi, hanno già confermato la loro presenza 91 partecipanti, tra cui:
– 36 Relatori
– 41 Ombudsman
– 9 Esperti di settore
– 14 Studenti stranieri
– accompagnatori

Le delegazioni rappresenteranno 37 Paesi provenienti da ogni angolo del Continente (Africa, America, Asia, Europa, Oceania):

Andorra, Angola, Australia, Austria, Azerbaigian, Bahrein, Benin, Bulgaria, Camerun, Cipro, Francia, Gambia, Germania, Grecia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Iraq, Italia, Kosovo, Malta, Marocco, Messico, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Paesi Bassi, Pakistan, Panama, Perù, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Spagna, Stati Uniti d’America, Turchia, Ucraina, Uzbekistan.

Questo evento rappresenta un’importante occasione per rafforzare il ruolo della difesa civica italiana sulla scena mondiale, ponendo l’Italia al centro del dibattito globale sui temi dei diritti e della giustizia. La Conferenza sarà un’opportunità unica per discutere e confrontarsi sulle migliori pratiche e sulle sfide comuni, a beneficio dei cittadini che si rivolgono ai nostri uffici per tutelare i loro diritti.

Per registrarsi alla Conferenza e prendere visione del programma delle giornate, questo il link: https://conferenzaombudsman2024.regione.lazio.it/form/

Per ulteriori informazioni, contattare: eventidifesacivica@regione.lazio.it

Equality, non-discrimination and racism People with disabilities

FRA took part in the annual spring expert meeting of the European Network on Victims’ Rights. It presented its project on protecting the fundamental rights of people with disabilities living in institutions.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT

FRA is carrying out research among network members on victims’ rights and support services with a focus on people with disabilities living in institutions.

The first results show that violence against people with disabilities in institutions is a subject matter rarely reflected in law and policies in the Member States.

FRA, together with the network, facilitated a workshop to discuss needs, gaps and challenges for Member States in ensuring rights and protection for particularly vulnerable victims.

The event ran from 14 to 15 May in Larnaca.

Ombudsman Rebecca Hilsenrath has written to NHS wheelchair services provider AJM Healthcare to share her concerns following a sharp increase in complaints about the company.

Since 2023, PHSO has seen a rise in complaints about AJM Healthcare, related to:

• people not receiving new wheelchairs or the correct parts
• delays to receiving equipment
• poor communication.

Rebecca said:

My hope in bringing these issues to your attention is that you will take the time to investigate the cause of this increase and make any necessary changes to address your customers’ concerns and improve the service you provide.

Complaints are an important part of the relationship between people and public services. They provide vital feedback to an organisation which can then be used to improve its services.

Read the letter to AJM Healthcare [PDF 152KB].

When 28 May 2024

Where Strasbourg, France

External event

FRA Director will visit the Council of Europe on 28 May in Strasbourg. She will exchange views with the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers’ Rapporteur Group on External Relations.

She will use concrete examples from the 2023 Report on the cooperation between FRA and the Council of Europe.

The discussion will focus on how to further strengthen cooperation between FRA and the Council of Europe. They will also exchange views on current and future priorities.

Philippe Boillat, independent member appointed by the Council of Europe to FRA’s Management Board, will also provide an update about his activities in this role.

FRA’s Director will also have bilateral meetings at the Council of Europe. She will meet the Heads of EU Missions to the Council of Europe and the EU Delegation Head.

The Dutch National Ombudsman, the Ombudsman for Children and the Ombudsman for Veterans today present their 2022 Annual Report to the House of Representatives: Time for the citizen. In it, they call on the government to listen to citizens more often, sooner and to better effect. Despite having seen some positive examples from the government, the ombudsmen continue to take a critical view, particularly with regard to the influence and control that citizens currently have over the work of the government.

National Ombudsman, Reinier van Zutphen: "Participation can only be successful if people actually have influence and control. We continue to be critical in cases where participation appears to be being used as a sticking plaster for an inadequate service provided by the government. Besides, citizens are only truly able to participate if certain conditions are met first. This includes having sufficient money to survive. People with financial concerns have less freedom to participate."

Uncertain period

In the annual report, the ombudsmen review a year of uncertainty, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, increasing energy prices and sky-high inflation levels. Some 90,000 Ukrainians fled to the Netherlands, placing additional pressure on existing asylum and reception facilities. This was yet another problem on top of other major issues, including housing shortages, the climate transition, the nitrogen problem, issues in juvenile care and the complex processes of redress in the allowances scandal, gas exploration in Groningen and flooding in Limburg. They note that the government needs to improve the way it listens to citizens in its approach to these problems. "We receive regular reports from citizens who feel they are not being heard or taken seriously. Before even starting with solutions, the government would be well advised to engage in dialogue more frequently with citizens to discuss the necessary action. What we need is a government that listens and is realistic about the efforts it is willing and able to make, without making promises it cannot meet."

From equality to equal treatment

In other words, it is time to stop talking about citizens and children and start talking with them instead. In 2022, the ombudsmen also saw some good examples, of a government actively engaging in conversation with citizens or even approaching them to draw attention to provisions to which they are entitled. "There is no lack of goodwill to resolve problems. But it needs to be done with purpose, care and creativity.” The ombudsmen also highlight the tendency to resort to increased regulation and far-reaching juridification. "The government strives to achieve equal rights and equal treatment for citizens. And, of course, the minimum that the government does must be the same for every citizen. Beyond that, there can be differences, provided that they can be properly explained." In the last year, the ombudsman also saw the strengthening of citizens’ legal status as another example of this increasing juridification. For example, in the wake of the allowances scandal, citizens were given increased access to legal aid. "This was all done with the very best intentions. But citizens should not have to resort to taking legal action against the government. This shows that, in far too many cases, the government is opposing citizens rather than standing alongside them."

Time for the citizen

Last year saw the ombudsmen call for increased speed across a range of key areas. "We are continuing to do this, because too many citizens are still waiting too long for their problems to be resolved." According to the ombudsmen, in its efforts to resolve problems, the government needs to quickly engage in discussion with citizens and acknowledge that mistakes have been made. After that, however, they need to take the time to stand alongside people in order to reach a well-considered solution, based on mutual agreement. "In practice, this can result in surprisingly simple solutions, that not only bring about financial redress, but also emotional redress. It is time for the citizen.”

Page 43 of the Annual Report 2022 erroneously states that the Dutch National Ombudsman received a total of 80 complaints from citizens from the Caribbean Netherlands in 2022. This statement is incorrect. The actual number of complaints is 198. The correct figure is given in the summaries of the Annual Report.

Bijlagen

Summary Annual Report 2022(pdf, 2.94 MB)