The
Catalan Ombudsman has announced bold savings measures for the
institution, while urging restraint in social policy
cutbacks |
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The
savings forecast for 2011 will stand for around 14% over prior year,
or approximately one million, two hundred thousand euros. The
Catalan Ombudsman presented the settled 2010 budget and the general
outline for the 2011 budget, to the president of the Catalan
Parliament, Núria de Gispert, last March 18. He also drew attention
to the threat posed to rights and social cohesion by possible budget
cutbacks that affect core social rights.
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Administrations
that failed to collaborate with the Catalan Ombudsman in
2010 |
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In his
first appearance before the parliamentary committee to present the
2010 Annual Report for review, the Ombudsman devoted special
attention to cases of lack of collaboration. In other words, the
institutions that had ignored the Catalan Ombudsman's requests. This
year, the failure to collaborate by the Spanish Government
Delegation in Catalonia, and hindrances in the municipal governments
of Sitges, Alcanar and Berga were notable. The next appearance was
Monday the 11th at 10 am. Over two sessions, the issues of justice
and public safety, consumer affairs, taxes, pensions, town planning
and housing, education and research, culture and language and
children and adolescent affairs were discussed.
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Rafael
Ribó participates in Taiwan in the Pacific and South Asian Region
Ombudsmen's conference |
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Last March
24th, the Catalan Ombudsman gave the keynote address of the 26th
Conference of the International Ombudsman Institute - IOI's Pacific
and South Asian Region, held March 23-25 in Taipei (Taiwan). Ribó,
invited as president of the IOI's European region, spoke on the role
of Ombudsmen in the international system of human rights, with
special focus on the European experience.
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A
delegation from the Bosnia and Herzegovina Ombudsman's Institution
visits the Catalan Ombudsman to deepen cooperation between the two
organizations |
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The
Bosnian delegation, led by the three incumbents of the institution
for human rights, attended working sessions on the three topics they
had expressed interest in being advised on, such as protection of
at-risk children, the charter of citizens' rights and obligations
vis-à-vis health and health care, and violence committed against
women. Actions designed to support the Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ombudsman were also outlined to begin a cooperation project. The
delegation's visit to Barcelona took place over March 3-5.
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Meeting
of the Catalan Ombudsman Advisors Council for the Prevention of
Torture |
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The
meeting was held at the Catalan Ombudsman's offices last March 14.
Among other items, the council discussed visit protocols, informed
on the visits made, and proposed new ones. Discussion also centered
on the range of detention centers to be visited. The advisors
council, made up of 12 members representing several professional
associations, NGO's, universities and professionals with experience
in torture prevention, meets quarterly and has the key duties of
making proposals for action to the Catalan Ombudsman, including
making preventive visits to specific sites where there are persons
deprived of freedom, and publishing a report on the matters that the
Catalan Ombudsman proposes.
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The
Catalan Ombudsman's office receives visits in Solsona on April
13 |
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The
Catalan Ombudsman's office travelled to Solsona on Thursday, April
13th to field complaints and queries on public administrations, and
also companies that provide services of public interest (utilities
and telephony). Visits were received at the Casal de Cultura i
Joventut, passeig Pare Claret, 24. Appointments could be made at 900
124 124, or by sending an e-mail to this address
sindic@sindic.cat.
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Reception
of complaints in Barberà del Vallès, Esparreguera, Canet de Mar and
Sant Adrià de Besòs |
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The trips
to these municipalities are conducted within the framework of the
individualized follow-up agreements that the Catalan Ombudsman has
signed with these local councils. The personalized attention was
provided in Barberà del Vallès by the Ombudsman's staff on April 6
and in Esparreguera on April 12. In Canet will be provided on
Tuesday, April 19 and in Sant Adrià de Besòs on Wednesday April
20.
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