“I can’t look after my disabled child and I am not being given any support”

"I haven’t got a place at the high school of my choice because they made a mistake”

“I’ve been on the waiting list for an operation for months”

"I’ve been awaiting payment from a public body for six months”

"I’ve submitted a document to the town council but they’re ignoring me”

It’s in situations like these when you can turn to the Síndic for advice and, if appropriate, file a formal complaint.

The Síndic’s role is to handle the complaints of anyone who is unprotected before the administrations’ actions or omissions. He seeks to ensure the proper working of the Catalan Government (Generalitat) and local administrations, like local councils, provincial governments or county councils. Thus, he works as a supervisor and collaborator of the Catalan Administration, with the aim of improving its operation. In addition to working with the administrations, the Síndic is also beginning supervision of the private companies that provide services of public interest, such as electricity, telephony, water, gas, the post, etc.

Elected by a majority vote of the Catalan Parliament, the Síndic is politically independent. The Síndic does not appertain to any government and acts with objectivity, freedom of criteria and independence.

Defence of persons’ rights

The Síndic works to ensure that persons’ rights are respected. These are rights that have a bearing on different groups and areas of activity, and that define the society in which we live.

The social rights are those that have a special bearing on the more vulnerable groups. The elderly, immigration, child protection, social exclusion or the penitentiary system are some of the highest-priority areas of activity for the Síndic, especially when it comes to undertaking ex officio actions or carrying out reports or working studies to defend the rights of those in greatest need.

Other social and economic rights, such as those that have to do with health care, education, housing, the environment or access to the job market also occupy a large part the Síndic’s workload.

The civil and political rights that affect issues such as public safety, the exercise of democracy, participation and linguistic policy; the rights of solidarity and the right to good administration round out the main block of complaints that the institution processes.