Ombudsman's
Office visit and "Opening the Doors to Rights" exhibit in
Valls |
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The
Catalan Ombudsman's office will travel to Valls next Thursday,
December 17th to field complaints and queries on administrations.
Visitors will be received at the Institut d'Estudis Vallencs, on
carrer Jaume Huguet, 1. Appointments can be made at 900 124 124, or
by sending an e-mail to this address sindic@sindic.cat From December
9th to the 20th, the travelling exhibit "Opening the Doors to
Rights", created by the Catalan Ombudsman to show the history and
work of the institution, will also be on display at the Institut
d'Estudis Vallencs. Catalan Ombudsman Rafael Ribó will offer a
presentation of the exhibit on December 17, at 6:30 pm.
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Personalized
service in Cubelles, Barberà del Vallès and Sant Pere de
Ribes |
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The
Catalan Ombudsman's visit to these municipalities will take place as
part of the individualized follow-up programs that the Ombudsman's
office has signed with each of their local councils. In Cubelles,
the Catalan Ombudsman's individualized service will be provided on
December 3rd, in Barberà del Vallès on the 10th and in Sant Pere de
Ribes on the 16th. Anyone who would like to file a complaint against
the administrations or make a query can make an appointment by
calling 900 124 124 or sending an e-mail to: sindic@sindic.cat
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Canet
de Mar, 8th municipality with an individualized follow-up
agreement |
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Among
other things, individualized follow-up consists of the Catalan
Ombudsman drawing up an annual report that describes the situation
of the complaints filed referring to the municipality and statistics
on the queries from persons and organizations of Canet that have
been handled by the Catalan Ombudsman. Furthermore, the Catalan
Ombudsman's staff will regularly travel to Canet to meet with
persons and organizations wishing to file complaints against
administrations, or make queries.
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The
Catalan Ombudsman offers an analysis on the application of the
United Nations Convention on Children's Rights in
Catalonia |
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The
Catalan Ombudsman analysed the application of the United Nations
Convention on Children's Rights (international law that takes up the
rights of children and young people all over the world) on the 20th
anniversary of its application. The most significant shortcomings
underscored were school segregation in education, dysfunctions in
the protection system such as overcrowded shelters in the realm of
protection, deficits in the culture of listening to minors, or the
inclusion of minors in decision-making processes, as refers to
participation.
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Suggestion
to include dependent or disabled spouses or domestic partners in the
social action fund for employees of the Catalan
government |
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Currently,
the terms of the social action fund (SAF) only include aid for the
children or dependent or disabled ascendants, and not for spouses or
domestic partners. In the Catalan Ombudsman's views, this
constitutes different treatment to personal situations that could be
considered equal. It is the Catalan Ombudsman's opinion that the
impossibility to receive aid through the condition of marriage or
other forms of cohabitation is insufficient.
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Meeting
of the Boards of Directors of the International Ombudsman Institute
(IOI) in Vienna |
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On
November 19-21, the European and international boards of directors
of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) met in Vienna. The
meeting also marked the official opening of the new IOI
headquarters, recently relocated to the Austrian capital. As
president of the Institute's European division, Catalan Ombudsman
Rafael Ribó directed the meeting relative to European affairs, in
which working plans and the projects to be discussed in the future
by all members were outlined.
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