News

• 

  Meeting of the European members of the International Ombudsman Institute chaired by the Catalan Ombudsman

  The assembly discussed future challenges and the work carried out during the last two years

  Rafael Ribó, until now president of the European Chapter, will hand over to the Greek Ombudsman, Andreas Potakkis
  
  

• 

  The Catalan Ombudsman organizes an international webinar on the Catalan public order model

  The Catalan Ombudsman has organized a seminar website with the aim of contributing to the debate on the need to revise or update the public order model in Catalonia.
  
• 

  The Catalan Ombudsman demands the acquittal of all five electoral commissioners

  The institution emphasizes that the months and years spent under the most serious accusations constitute an attack on rights and freedoms that would have no place in a democratic and lawful state

  These people resigned from their posts as a result of the coercive fine imposed by the Constitutional Court, which the same Court subsequently lifted
  
  

• 

  The Catalan Ombudsman warns of the serious widening rights crisis during 2020

  Annual Report 2020 (in Catalan)
  
  Of the year of the COVID-19 the Catalan Ombudsman emphasizes the accessibility to healthcare, the inequality in the education, the vulnerability of the elders in residential care homes, the recklessness on the nature and environment, the housing emergence as a vital element, the impoverishment of labour and entrepreneurship, and the growing erosion of rights and freedoms
  
  During 2020 the Catalan Ombudsman has received 11,317 complaints from 22,476 people and 303 ex officio actions have been initiated
  
  Actions in social policies have accounted for 40% of interventions
  
  A budgetary strengthening is needed in the field of health, education and welfare equating the percentage of the GDP of the countries of northern Europe
  
  
• 

  The Catalan Ombudsman reports violations of rights in the Supreme Court interlocutory decrees that revoke the third degree of prison regime

  STATEMENT REGARDING THE INTERLOCUTORY DECREES OF THE SPANISH SUPREME COURT OF DECEMBER 4, 2020
  
  

  • Giving up one's own ideology should be considered a violation of ideological freedom, as stated by both the Spanish Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights
  • The sentencing court is not the judicial body laid down by law for this matter, since it is not specialized in judicial control of criminal enforcement 

   

• 

  The Catalan Ombudsman recalls that judicial decisions that affect the ideological freedom of political prisoners are an attack on fundamental rights

  It questions the intent to condition access to a particular prison treatment to reintegration programs that are meant to inculcate certain ideology in inmates.

  The application of the regime of article 100.2 RP (penitentiary regulation) and the progression to third degree by the Catalan penitentiary administration are adjusted to law

  The Spanish Supreme Court has declared itself competent to hear penitentiary issues and reintegration mechanisms instead of the specialized courts

  Never before had the suspensive effect of the third degree been applied on the occasion of the Prosecutor’s appeal against the administrative decision

  The objective situations of the nine convicted people transcend the specific case and could have a detrimental effect on the more than 6,000 convicted people in Catalan prisons.
  
  

• Statement regarding the judgement of the Spanish Supreme Court about the ban from public office of the president of the government of Catalonia

  Today, the judgment of the Second Chamber of the Spanish Supreme Court in the appeal filed by the Mr. Joaquim Torra Pla, President of the Government of Catalonia, against the judgment of 19 December 2019 of the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia has been announced. In this ruling, the Supreme Court confirms the ruling of the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia and bans the President of the Government of Catalonia from “holding public office”.

• 

  The Catalan Ombudsman is reviewed by other ombudsmen and makes public the results

  The review process consisted of the evaluation by other ombudsmen of the efficiency and effectiveness of the institution, the effectiveness of the basic processes and the quality of the services
  
  The methodology used has been based on the guidelines established by the International Ombudsman Institute
  
  The process has ended with the publication of a report that summarizes the strengths and weaknesses of the institution
  
  Positive and relevant elements initiated during the current term have been highlighted, such as the ability to address new and mainly social issues or those related to the most vulnerable people
  
  
• 

  The Catalan Ombudsman will reopen its doors on 15 June

  The Catalan Ombudsman reopens the doors of the headquarters, Passeig Lluís Companys, 7, on June 15, 2020 with a new schedule.
  
  Front office hours are from 8.30 am to 2 pm, Monday to Friday.
  
  On the other hand, the telephone service hours are from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday.
  
  For better service, it is recommended to request an appointment by calling 900 124 124 or 933 018 075
  
  We appreciate your cooperation and caution in continuing to comply with the safety measures established by the health authorities.