Lola Padrón se comprometió a impulsar más colaboración para asegurar que los recursos y apoyos lleguen “a quienes más lo necesitan”

La Diputada del Común, Lola Padrón recibió el pasado lunes a representantes de Cáritas Diocesana de Canarias quienes le recordaron las cifras del último informe presentado por la organización religiosa en el que atendieron a 29,100 personas, un 17,5% más que antes de la pandemia de 2019, y a 9,476 hogares, destacando que el 45% de las personas atendidas no tienen acceso a ninguna ayuda.

Durante el encuentro mantenido se abordó el papel y la situación actual del tercer sector en las islas y se habló de explorar los recursos disponibles, con el objetivo de establecer una colaboración más dinámica y adaptable. La mediación de la Diputación se presenta como un elemento clave para facilitar la intervención y cooperación con las instituciones pertinentes.

La Diputada del Común, Lola Padrón, felicitó y agradeció la labor de la entidad, reconociendo el trabajo y el compromiso con la transformación social. Caya Suárez, Secretaría General de Cáritas en Canarias, reiteró la importancia de que el sistema proporcione soluciones efectivas a los problemas que enfrentan las comunidades. Explicó como a través del marco de su II Plan Estratégico 2020-2025, construido con la participación de toda la comunidad cristiana, Cáritas enfoca su trabajo en la promoción y defensa de los Derechos Humanos. La organización expresó su preocupación por el estado de los derechos sociales en Canarias y destaca la necesidad urgente de reforzar el apoyo institucional y comunitario para enfrentar los desafíos actuales. “La misión de Cáritas es transformar los problemas que afrontan las personas en situación de vulnerabilidad mediante un modelo diferente, centrado en los derechos humanos y la solidaridad comunitaria” afirmó Caya Suárez.

Por su parte Padrón, confirmó que estas rondas de encuentros con las organizaciones sirven para colaborar con los objetivos planteados y asegurar que los recursos y apoyos “lleguen efectivamente a quienes más lo necesitan”. No en vano del informe presentado en el mes de mayo de este año, Cáritas aseguró que la pobreza, cronificada en Canarias, se ha intensificado en las personas más vulnerables que aún no han podido superar las consecuencias de la pandemia y las continuas crisis, agravándose su situación en 2023 con el aumento de los precios de los alimentos y el coste de la vivienda.

Las representantes comentaron que la labor de Cáritas se sustenta en el esfuerzo conjunto de profesionales y voluntarios. Mientras que el equipo profesional cuenta con una plantilla de 128 personas, “es el voluntariado el que realiza gran parte del trabajo en parroquias, barrios y comunidades”. Entre sus líneas de trabajo expusieron la promoción y defensa de los Derechos Humanos, la formación y acompañamiento que voluntariado y técnicos ofrecen a las personas atendidas que acuden a Cáritas; implementar proyectos que fomenten la cohesión social y el desarrollo integral de las comunidades y fomentar prácticas sostenibles y responsables que aseguren a largo plazo sus iniciativas.

Tomás Quintana ha participado esta mañana en foro organizado por la Agencia Efe bajo el título 'Las instituciones propias en el desarrollo del Estatuto de Autonomía de Castilla y León'. El Procurador del Común ha destacado la importante función que realiza en la defensa de los derechos de los ciudadanos y recordó que desde 2018 se han atendido a más de 70.000 personas, con especial atención al mundo rural. 

Attivata dal Garante Giancarlo Giulianelli anche attraverso i colloqui con i detenuti. Questa volta in primo piano l’inadeguatezza di alcune strutture e la mancanza di spazi. Come sempre la richiesta di un maggior sostegno psicologico

Ulteriore azione di monitoraggio del Garante regionale dei diritti, Giancarlo Giulianelli, negli istituti penitenziari marchigiani, anche attraverso una nuova serie di colloqui con i detenuti. Già effettuati quelli presso le Case circondariali di Montacuto e Villa Fastigi, mentre a partire dalla prossima settimana i confronti saranno attivati a Marino del Tronto e a seguire nelle altre strutture carcerarie regionali.
“Come ho già avuto modo dire – precisa Giulianelli – la complessa situazione che caratterizza tutto il territorio nazionale impone di non abbassare la guardia. Al di là delle problematiche più volte evidenziate, occorre capire cosa realmente accade in carcere, quali son i vuoti da riempire, come le attività trattamentali possano contribuire ad alleviare alcuni disagi e contemporaneamente delineare le prospettive per il futuro”.
E proprio nel corso dei colloqui sono emersi diversi degli aspetti a cui fa riferimento il Garante.
“Non sottovalutiamo – dice Giulianelli – la situazione di alcune strutture che, in molti casi, necessitano di interventi sostanziosi, se non radicali. Ce lo evidenziano i detenuti, ma è un problema ormai appurato da anni. Celle fatiscenti, spazi ristretti, situazione che diventa ancor più invivibile quando perdura il sovraffollamento e va ad acuirsi durante l’estate. Per non parlare di casi limite come quello della Casa di reclusione di Fermo, e su questo insisto ancora una volta, che non può più essere allocata in una struttura che attualmente non presenta, se mai ne abbia avute, le caratteristiche che dovrebbe avere un istituto penitenziario”.
L’azione di monitoraggio riavviata in questi giorni non manca di porre come sempre in primo piano le problematiche sanitarie, quelle relative ai trasferimenti e la necessità di un maggior sostegno psicologico, di una vicinanza concreta che contribuisca a smussare gli angoli delle fragilità più consistenti.
“Non parliamo di carceri – conclude il Garante – solo in presenza di casi eclatanti. Fornire aiuto oggi a chi sconta la sua pena vuol dire anche che il futuro ritorno nella società potrà presentarsi meno traumatico e non insidiato da eventuali recidive”.

SITUAZIONE AL 30 GIUGNO 2024

Al 30 giugno 2024, in base al Report mensile del Ministero di Giustizia – Dipartimento amministrazione penitenziaria, presso i 6 istituti penitenziari marchigiani erano ospitati 913 detenuti (282 stranieri e 19 donne) per una capienza di 837 unità. Da tener conto, come sempre, della minor presenza nell’istituto di Fossombrone dovuta ai lavori di ristrutturazione di un’ala dell’edificio. Nel complesso attualmente risultano 739 detenuti con condanna definitiva, 98 in attesa di primo giudizio, 42 appellanti, 25 ricorrenti e 44 in semilibertà. Andando ad un esame per singola struttura, a Montacuto le presenze sono pari a 327 unità (112 stranieri) su una capienza regolamentare di 256. A Barcaglione 94 detenuti (36) su 100 posti disponibili. Per quanto riguarda Marino del Tronto di Ascoli Piceno i detenuti sono 118 (29) su 103; a Fermo 48 (13) su 43; a Villa Fastiggi di Pesaro 237 (90 stranieri e 19 donne) su una capienza di 153. Infine, Fossombrone con 89 detenuti di cui 2 stranieri per 182 posti disponibili.

A.Is.

On March 29th, Ombudswoman Tena Šimonović Einwalter submitted a new annual report to the Croatian Parliament. The Ombudswoman’s report for 2023 provides an analysis and assessment of the human rights situation in Croatia, as well as 147 recommendations.

Citizens’ complaints pertaining to various areas of life reflect some similar problems in the actions of various public authorities, such as failing to inform citizens about their rights and how to exercise them and failing to sufficiently apply the principle of assisting the parties in the proceedings. Furthermore, their communication with citizens was not always timely and of good quality. All of these represent obstacles to the exercise of the right to good governance, contributing to distrust in the institutions.

Last year, citizens addressed the Ombudswoman most commonly due to problems with realizing the right to health, followed by discrimination in various areas of life and violations of the right to work.

Complaints related to the right to health showed that healthcare services were difficult to access, there was a lack of doctors and medical teams, and patients often did not receive complete information. Residents of remote areas and islands expressed fear of losing their only doctor, oncology patients faced waiting lists and malfunctioning diagnostic equipment, while palliative care patients often did not receive dignified end-of-life care. Complaints came from people with severe and/or chronic illnesses and in poor financial situations, mothers receiving maternity/parental support, and students studying outside Croatia who lost compulsory health insurance after the obligation of regular personal visits to Croatian Health Insurance Fund was introduced.

The largest number of discrimination complaints related to the area of work and employment, with the most frequent grounds cited being racial or ethnic/national origin, with Roma being the most exposed. A significant number of discrimination cases remain unreported, indicating the need to raise awareness of the prohibition of discrimination and to strengthen the protection mechanisms. One of the means to achieve this is performing analyses of judicial practice, which is also part of the Ombudswoman’s 2023 Report.

Complaints related to the right to work included, among other, illegal dismissals, undeclared work, non-payment of wages or partial payment “off the books,” and workplace harassment (bullying). Necessary changes to the Act on Foreigners have not been made to make it easier for foreign workers to decide to report violations of their rights, to enable language learning on a national level, and to regulate accommodation conditions.

Affordable housing was not sufficiently accessible to citizens, while social housing is underdeveloped, requiring the establishment of housing policies and provision of social housing to protect the right to adequate housing. Reconstruction after the earthquake has accelerated, but many citizens are still waiting for their homes to be renovated.

The social welfare system needs to be more efficient – well-organized, user-focused, with appropriate capacities, accessible to all, and benefits should ensure a significant reduction in poverty. Social workers have reported being overwhelmed by administration even after the system’s reorganization, stating they “see paperwork, not people.” Homeless individuals face numerous rights violations, are often ‘invisible’ and stigmatized, and are not covered by systematic measures and policies.

More and more elderly people are at risk of poverty (34.8%), especially those living alone (59.9%). New mechanisms have been introduced to protect against abuses of life-long care contracts, including those based on the Ombudswoman’s recommendations. However, there has not been enough progress in preventing and combating violence against older people. Complaints and inspections of nursing homes indicated inadequate accommodation conditions and treatment of residents, partly due to staff shortages, but also due to a lack of awareness of the dignity and rights of older people.

Regarding the freedom of expression, the level of political communication in 2023 was still subpar, which the Ombudswoman highlighted ahead of the parliamentary elections. This trend normalizes unacceptable communication among citizens, with particular issues being intolerance and hate speech online. Journalists faced SLAPP lawsuits, attacks, and threats. The announcement of amendments to the Criminal Code was also a cause for concern, and it is important to monitor whether and how the new criminal offense will affect media freedoms.

Unfortunately, the Croatian Parliament has still not discussed the Ombudswoman’s previous report, continuing the trend of tardiness in their deliberations, which also affects the implementation of the recommendations – although Croatian Constitution designates the Ombudswoman as the commissioner of the Croatian Parliament for the promotion and protection of human rights and freedoms, independent and autonomous in her work.

According to the Ombudsman Act, the annual report is submitted by the end of March, which this year coincides with the dissolution of the Croatian Parliament and the calling of the parliamentary elections.

In line with her role of an independent, autonomous, and impartial institution, the Ombudswoman will not publicly address the matter until the end of the parliamentary elections. To emphasize the need for timely discussions on the report in the Croatian Parliament in the future, the Ombudswoman will present this Report to the public at a press conference after the new Parliament is constituted.

Additional information:

You can download the Ombudswoman’s 2023 Annual Report here
In addition to the issues listed above, the Report covers numerous other topics, areas, and rights – youth, energy poverty, the protection of whistleblowers, the right to public assembly, the right to water, the right to clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, the rights related to the police system, asylum seekers and irregular migrants, the prison system, artificial intelligence, as well as the field of justice, including digitization, enforcement, hate crimes, free legal aid, support to victims and witnesses, among many others.

On 10 June 2024, the Civil Consultative Body (CCB) supporting the work of the OPCAT National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) held a meeting, in which Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary Dr. Ákos Kozma also took part.

At the meeting, the NPM’s 2024 activities, inspections and further professional plans were discussed, among others. 

The mandate of the fifteen-member Civil Consultative Body is for three years, and the body may make proposals for the contents of the annual visit plan of the OPCAT National Preventive Mechanism, as well as for the priorities of the inspections, and it may propose visits to specific places of detention.

According to the law on the promulgation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), as of 1 January 2015, the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights also acts as National Preventive Mechanism in person or through his staff members.