The
new Catalan Ombudsman Act comes into force |
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The new
Catalan Ombudsman Act, passed in Parliament on December 17, came
into force on December 31, 2009. With the new law, which broadens
the institution's competencies and powers according to the 2006
Statute of Autonomy, the Catalan Ombudsman is established as the
maximum Catalan authority for the prevention of torture and other
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the terms of
the Protocol to the United Nations Convention.
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The
"Opening the Doors to Rights" returns to the Catalan Ombudsman's
headquarters |
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The
"Opening the Doors to Rights" exhibit, conceived by the Catalan
Ombudsman to display the institution's work and history, returns to
the Catalan Ombudsman's headquarters after visiting 21
municipalities. It is open to the public during regular office
hours:
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Individualized
service in Sant Adrià de Besòs and Canet de Mar |
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The trips
to these municipalities will be conducted under the terms of the
individualized supervision agreements that the Catalan Ombudsman has
signed with each of them. The Catalan Ombudsman's staff will provide
individualized service in Sant Adrià de Besòs on January 20 and in
Canet de Mar on January 28. Anyone wishing to file a complaint
against the administration or make a query should arrange an
appointment by calling 900 124 124 or sending a message to
sindic@sindic.cat
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Request
for information from the Autonomous Catalan Ministry of Health on
morning-after pill dispensation |
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The
Catalan Ombudsman has opened an ex-officio action, and requested
information from the Catalan Autonomous Ministry of Health on the
procedure for dispensation of the morning-after pill, for which a
protocol was signed with the Council of Professional Pharmacists
Associations, recognizing pharmacists' rights to conscientious
objection and users' rights to have the pill supplied to them
without a prescription.
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Ex-officio
action on the change in criteria for immigrants' municipal census
registration in Vic |
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The
Catalan Ombudsman will study the measure taken by Vic's local
council, as the implementation of this measure has a direct impact
on immigrants' rights. The Catalan Ombudsman's office has requested
information on the municipal census registration to be applied to
immigrants by the Vic municipal government.
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Recommendation
to the Tortosa Local Council to modify municipal census registration
requisites |
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The
Tortosa Local Council requires the certificate of occupancy for
municipal census registration as an instrument to detect and correct
situations of household overcrowding or substandard housing
conditions, according to a protocol approved by the Local Governing
Council. The Catalan Ombudsman believes that this agreement by the
Local Council modified the legislation applicable to the municipal
census, as it does not have the regulatory rank required by the
legislation in force and could affect rights.
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Results
of the Catalan Ombudsman's free legal aid program in the Serbian
Vojvodina region |
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A total of
2,522 people have been assisted, 2,211 of them through the Legal
Advice Service (over 2008-2009) and 311 in in-court representation
(only in 2009). In both cases, women, most of whom were unemployed,
made up the most numerous group assisted.
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Third
Meeting of the Mediterranean Ombudsman Association |
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Catalan
Ombudsman Rafael Ribó took part in the third meeting of the
Mediterranean Ombudsman Association, in Athens on December 14-15.
Under the title "Transparency in public services: the role of the
ombudsman", various round table discussions were held to debate this
topic. The Catalan Ombudsman gave a presentation in the third
discussion panel, entitled, "Transparency and fighting against
corruption".
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