Economic
crisis and cuts infringe children's right to equal
opportunities |
 |
This is
one of the conclusions drawn by the Síndic in its first annual
Report on Children's Rights, delivered in October to the Catalan
Parliament. As from the task carried out over the last years, the
Catalan Ombudsman, Rafael Ribó, and the Deputy for the Defence of
Children's and Adolescent's Rights, M. Jesús Larios, affirm that
there has been significant progress in Catalonia in guaranteeing
children rights. However, the report states that some rights are
directly affected by economic crisis and cuts in public
allowances.
|
|
The
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe
in favour of local and regional ombudsmen |
 |
The
Congress, held in Strasbourg from 18 to 20 October and with all the
state members taking part in it, unanimously passed a report in
favour of local and regional ombudsmen. The report strongly
recommeds creating new ombudsmen offices and consolidating the
existing ones in terms of independence, means and competences.
Rafael Ribó, acting as president of the European Chapter of the
International Ombudsmen Institute (IOI), delivered the introductory
speech.
|
|
Seminar
on the relationship between the Catalan Ombudsman and the local
scope |
 |
This
Seminar, aimed at mayors, elected representatives and technical
staff of local bodies, will be held in the Catalan Parliament on
November, 14. The goal of such seminar is to explain in detail the
competences and tasks of the Catalan Ombudsman, to open a forum of
debate for all participants discussing the Catalan ombudsman's role
as supervisor on both local and regional councils, and to achieve a
more fluent relationship between local governing bodies and the
Catalan Ombudsman.
|
|
The
Catalan Ombudsman takes drastic saving measures and reiterates that
economic cuts must not affect social inclusion |
 |
The
Catalan Ombudsman budget draft for 2012, delivered to the Catalan
Parliament in October, entails a 942.276 euros reduction, which
means a 11,87% savings with respect to 2011 Budget and a 21% with
respect to the 2010 one. As for the budgetary constraints, the
Catalan Ombdusman, Rafael Ribó, has reminded the Government and the
Catalan Parliament that the limit must be set when such cuts affect
social rights and the existing protection system.
|
|
IOI-Europe
retakes the debate on consumers’ rights |
 |
The
European chapter of the International Ombudsman Institute
(IOI-Europe) will host the third Seminar on the defense of rights
and good practices in private management of public services and the
role of the Ombudsman, to be held in Barcelona from 21 to 22 de
November. With this Seminar, chaired together with de Cercle
d'Economia, private institution for promoting policy discussion, the
debate on consumers’ rights adquires an international dimension and
retakes the thoughts initiated by the Catalan Ombudsman in the two
precedent seminars on the same subject.
|
|
