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January2010
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The new Catalan Ombudsman Act comes into force

The new Catalan Ombudsman Act, passed in Parliament on December 17, came into force on December 31, 2009. With the new law, which broadens the institution's competencies and powers according to the 2006 Statute of Autonomy, the Catalan Ombudsman is established as the maximum Catalan authority for the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the terms of the Protocol to the United Nations Convention.
Complete text of the Law:

The "Opening the Doors to Rights" returns to the Catalan Ombudsman's headquarters

@sindic
The "Opening the Doors to Rights" exhibit, conceived by the Catalan Ombudsman to display the institution's work and history, returns to the Catalan Ombudsman's headquarters after visiting 21 municipalities. It is open to the public during regular office hours:
For more information:

Individualized service in Sant Adrià de Besòs and Canet de Mar

@sindic
The trips to these municipalities will be conducted under the terms of the individualized supervision agreements that the Catalan Ombudsman has signed with each of them. The Catalan Ombudsman's staff will provide individualized service in Sant Adrià de Besòs on January 20 and in Canet de Mar on January 28. Anyone wishing to file a complaint against the administration or make a query should arrange an appointment by calling 900 124 124 or sending a message to sindic@sindic.cat
More information on Sant Adrià de Besòs:
More information on Canet de Mar:

Request for information from the Autonomous Catalan Ministry of Health on morning-after pill dispensation

@sindic
The Catalan Ombudsman has opened an ex-officio action, and requested information from the Catalan Autonomous Ministry of Health on the procedure for dispensation of the morning-after pill, for which a protocol was signed with the Council of Professional Pharmacists Associations, recognizing pharmacists' rights to conscientious objection and users' rights to have the pill supplied to them without a prescription.
For more information:

Ex-officio action on the change in criteria for immigrants' municipal census registration in Vic

@sindic
The Catalan Ombudsman will study the measure taken by Vic's local council, as the implementation of this measure has a direct impact on immigrants' rights. The Catalan Ombudsman's office has requested information on the municipal census registration to be applied to immigrants by the Vic municipal government.
For more information:

Recommendation to the Tortosa Local Council to modify municipal census registration requisites

@sindic
The Tortosa Local Council requires the certificate of occupancy for municipal census registration as an instrument to detect and correct situations of household overcrowding or substandard housing conditions, according to a protocol approved by the Local Governing Council. The Catalan Ombudsman believes that this agreement by the Local Council modified the legislation applicable to the municipal census, as it does not have the regulatory rank required by the legislation in force and could affect rights.
More information:

Results of the Catalan Ombudsman's free legal aid program in the Serbian Vojvodina region

@sindic
A total of 2,522 people have been assisted, 2,211 of them through the Legal Advice Service (over 2008-2009) and 311 in in-court representation (only in 2009). In both cases, women, most of whom were unemployed, made up the most numerous group assisted.
More information:

Third Meeting of the Mediterranean Ombudsman Association

@sindic
Catalan Ombudsman Rafael Ribó took part in the third meeting of the Mediterranean Ombudsman Association, in Athens on December 14-15. Under the title "Transparency in public services: the role of the ombudsman", various round table discussions were held to debate this topic. The Catalan Ombudsman gave a presentation in the third discussion panel, entitled, "Transparency and fighting against corruption".
For more information:

Síndic de Greuges de Catalunya

Lluís Companys, 7 · 08003 Barcelona. Tel. 900 124 124 sindic@sindic.cat | http://www.sindic.cat/
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Pursuant to Organic Law 15/1999 of 13 December on Personal Data Protection, your data will be included into a file for their processing and communication purposes. The party responsible for this file is the Síndic de Greuges de Catalunya (Catalan Ombudsman). You may address the Síndic de Greuges to exercise your rights of access, rectification and cancellation of your personal data.