Rafael
Ribó takes office as Síndic de Greuges (Catalan Ombudsman) for a new
term |
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Ombudsman
Ribó has been sworn in in Parliament in a ceremony presided over by
the President of the Catalan Parliament, Ernest Benach, and attended
by President of the Generalitat (Catalan Autonomous Government) José
Montilla and several other Catalan government officials. Also on
hand were the Spanish Ombudsman and the majority of autonomous
community ombudsmen from Spain, in addition to numerous local and
university ombudsmen.
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The
crisis has brought about an increase in complaints that indicate
situations of social exclusion |
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At the
presentation in Parliament of the 2009 Annual Report, the Catalan
Ombudsman urged that the priorities of fighting social exclusion be
accentuated in times of crisis. Budgetary restrictions have affected
services and benefits in areas especially sensitive for equal
opportunities such as education, social services, children's affairs
or housing.
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The
actions of the Catalan Ombudsman Office in 2009 increase by 5.2%
over 2008 |
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Over the
course of 2009, the Catalan Ombudsman carried out 24,960 actions,
with 5,941 complaints, 105 ex-officio actions and 18,914 queries.
These actions made for a 5.2% increase over the prior year. As this
is the last report from the Catalan Ombudsman's term that began in
2004, it must be noted that since that time there has been a 278%
increase in interventions. In other words, for each action that the
Catalan Ombudsman's office took in 2004, 3.8 were taken in 2009.
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Personalized
service in Cubelles, Barberà del Vallès, Sant Pere de Ribes and
Cardedeu |
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The trip
to these municipalities will be conducted within the framework of
the individualized follow-up agreements that the Catalan Ombudsman
has signed with these local councils. In Cubelles, the personalized
service of the Catalan Ombudsman's staff will take place on March
3rd, in Barberà del Vallès on the 11th, in Sant Pere de Ribes on the
18th, and in Cardedeu on March 25th. Anyone wishing to file a
complaint against the administrations or make a query may make an
appointment at 900 124 124 or by sending an e-mail to this address
sindic@sindic.cat.
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The
Catalan Ombudsman proposes a critical evaluation of the application
of the Chemical Industry Exterior Emergency Plan
(PLASEQCAT) |
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The
suggestion has been made following analysis of the administrations'
emergency management of a toxic leak on July 22, 2009 in the Ercros
plant in Tarragona. This leak led to the activation of the Chemical
Industry Exterior Emergency Plan of Catalonia (PLASEQCAT), and the
mandatory reclusion of factory-area residents in their homes due to
the appearance of a toxic cloud of nitric monoxide.
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Torelló
signs an individualized supervision agreement with the Catalan
Ombudsman |
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Among
other things, individualized supervision consists of an annual
report describing the status of complaints handled on the
municipalities in question, and statistics on the queries fielded by
the Catalan Ombudsman from persons and organizations in Torelló.
Furthermore, the Catalan Ombudsman's team will make regular visits
to the municipality to meet with the persons and organizations
wishing to file complaints against the administrations or enter
queries.
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