Catalan Ombudsman, Rafael Ribó, delivered to the President of the Catalan Parliament, Núria de Gispert, the institution's Annual Report 2011. The report, a compendium of the Ombudsman's anual activities, states that complaints to the Catalan Ombudsman has increased 31.6% over the previous year and the Administration has agreed in 92% of cases to the suggestion of the Catalan Ombudsman, 5% more than in the previous year.
The task of defending people’s rights entrusted by the Statute of Autonomy to the Ombudsman has been significantly influenced during the past year by the social consequences of the crisis and the impact on social rights that certain budgetary decisions have entailed.
The Ombudsman is aware of the extent and consequences of the economic crisis and the narrow leeway of public institutions, including Catalan, to set up the limit of budgetary expenditure. Even so, the Ombudsman notes that over the past year certain decisions and actions in the field of public policy entailed a denial of the fulfilment of individual rights, and people that happen to be in a weaker position within the social structure are those who have suffered more intensely the weakening of their social rights.
Complaints and ex officio actions increase by 31.6%
On 2011 the Catalan Ombudsman activity has been significantly increased over the previous years. The total number of people served by the institution has reached 38,695, 23.4% higher than the number of people who addressed the Catalan throughout 2010.
The actions of Catalan Ombudsman concerning complains and initiated ex officio actions were 8,180, a 31.6% increase over the previous year. If these actions are added to queries (14,579), the total number of actions initiated throughout the year was 22,759.
92% acceptance of the resolutions of the Catalan Ombudsman
Throughout 2011, the Ombudsman has completed 7,865 performances, 35.9% from the previous year. In all resolutions with suggestions the degree of acceptance of recommendations has been very high; around 92% of cases. Importantly, this acceptance has increased more than 5% over the previous year.