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2009
Recent Activities
Ombudsman and environmental protection in Athens
 
The Eunomia project of the Greek Ombudsman organized a capacity building workshop in Athens entitled The Ombudsman and environmental protection in Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd June 2009 at the Conference Hall of the Greek Ombudsman.
The workshop was attended by eleven delegations of national Ombudsman institutions coming from Albania, Armenia, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, the “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, the Provincial Ombudsman of Vojvodina (Serbia), Slovenia, Spain – including the Ombudsman of Catalonia and a selected Greek audience, mainly composed of NGOs active in the field of environmental protection.
The event started with a study visit by the international participants to the town of Elefsina, 20 km of Athens, a spot of unique – not only by Greek standards - archeological and environmental interest. Elefsina and the surrounding area have been the center of heavy industrial development of the Athens region already in the early 20th century and mainly in the aftermath of WWII. This concentration lead to extreme environmental pollution, endangering human lives in the area. In the last twenty years, efforts to combat it have given some results. Participants visited the archeological site and had a first round table discussion with the municipal authorities of Elefsina and the neighboring town of Aspropyrgos regarding the role of the Ombudsman in cases of environmental interest, based on real cases brought at the Ombudsman’s office from or against these authorities of the area.
The workshop in Athens started with a Round table “Control mechanisms and environmental protection” where different levels of public accountability regarding the protection environment were explored. Particular attention was drawn to national and supranational jurisdictional control, parliamentary control, the civil society perspective and finally, the particular position of extra-judicial control exercised by the Ombudsman in this environmental perspective. Participants at the round table were the vice president of the Greek State Council, the Chairman of the Special Permanent Parliamentary Commission for the Environment, the Greek Ombudsman, the Head of the Greek section of Greenpeace as well as a delegate of the DG Environment of the EC.
The second Round table of the event entitled “Ombudsman and environmental protection: Non judicial control, mediation and awareness” focused on the particular methodology that Ombudsman institutions might forge in order to tackle environmental issues with maximum efficiency. Delegates of the offices of the Ombudsman of Austria, Spain (both the National Ombudsman as well as the Ombudsman of Catalonia), Slovenia, (including the Slovenian Ombudsman herself) and of Greece initiated a discussion on
Principles of effective complaints handling regarding environmental protection,
practical aspects of effective investigation,
Reaching the target audience: citizens and civil society.
A representative of the NGO WWF Greece contributed with an intervention on the topic of Ombudsman and civil society. The discussion also focused on issues of communication and accessibility with respect to environmental protection.
Awareness at the field of environmental protection seems to be the challenge not only for states and political communities, but the Ombudsman institutions in Europe, as such. In simple terms, if ‘human rights’ seem to occupy the top of the Ombudsman agenda in our days in Europe, environmental protection is still law at the Ombudsmans’ discourse,, with a few notable exceptions. Both national human rights structures as well as international institutions promoting Ombudsmanship must elaborate on the idea that the protection of environment and the consequent implementation of an accountability culture for the administration is not a luxury reserved to the Ombudsman institutions of consolidated rule of law regimes. It is a major challenge and par excellence a part of the Ombudsman material for all institutions, and particularly the ones of the so-called new democracies in Europe.
Program
Workshop: Exploring standards and measures addressing Roma institutional visibility, Tuesday 16th June 2009
The Eunomia project of the Greek Ombudsmanorganized a capacity building seminar in Athens entitled Exploring standards and measures addressing Roma institutional visibility on Tuesday 16th June 2009 at the Conference Hall of the Greek Ombudsman. The term “institutional visibility” was used for the first time by the Greek Ombudsman in the European workshop “Lifting the barriers of social participation: Roma population cases before the Ombudsman” organized in Nafplion (Greece) in 7-8 December 2007.
The aim of the seminar was to contribute to the definition of the main human rights priorities on Roma issues in Europe and identify specific institutional solutions in this regard resulting from:
- practices and/or strategies of National Specialized Bodies on Equality;
- administrative practices;
- specific initiatives of the Council of Europe and the case-law of the ECHR, the OSCE (High Commissioner for National Minorities, ODIHR) and the E.U. (E.C., FRA and E.P.)
The concept of the workshop was to promote an interactive relationship between specialized national equality bodies belonging to the EQUINET (European Network of equality bodies) and working on Roma issues - Ombudsman Institutions or not - with international organizations dealing with Roma issues with a view to formulating specific recommendations for relevant institutional solutions.
The seminar’s first session entitled “Achievements and recommendations of international bodies” addressed the issue in three different parts. The first part, dedicated to the Council of Europe, tackled the relevant case-law of the European Court for Human Rights (Marc WILLERS) and other Council of Europe’s activities (Michael GUET) as well as the work of the office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Nikolaos SITAROPOULOS). The second part, which was to refer to the whole of the OSCE activities, did not cover the ODHIR’s (Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights) perspective, due to the absence of the office’s delegate; instead it started a lively discussion around the High Commissioner for National Minorities perspective (Georgia PAPAGIANNI). The third part on “The European Union and Roma” was structured around three main contributions of the DG Employment European Commission – (Eric RISSE), the Fundamental Rights Agency (Eva SOBOTKA) and of the European Parliament (Victoria MOHACSI), former member of the European Parliament.
The seminar’s second session was a round table entitled Addressing recommendations and standard setting for Roma institutional visibility . Prof. Ralph SANDLAND presented a comprehensive report on the first session and delegates from the present EQUINET bodies discussed their own problems in tackling the Roma issue through their own institutional perspective.
Participants in the round table discussion:
Ms A. NILSSON from the Equality Ombudsman of Sweden, Ms Esen FIKRI, Commission for Protection against Discrimination, Bulgaria, Ms Nepheli YATROPOULOS, Haute Autorite de Lutte contre les Discriminations et pour l'Egalite, France, Ms Kalliopi LYKOVARDI, The Greek Ombudsman, Ms Antoinette MCKEOWN, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and Mr Krzysztof SMISZEK, Equinet Secretariat.
Main topics of the discussion between EQUINET participants and representatives of international organizations were the civil status, education and housing of Roma. The Greek deputy Ombudsman for Human Rights, Mr Andreas TAKIS, concluded the seminar.
The ‘Roma issue’ presents incomparable difficulties compared to other minority issues in Europe. These difficulties are due to the rather unique - in terms of political complexity – combination of problems related to ethnicity, social class and cultural values of the Roma population that very often European States appear incapable of dealing with, even one by one. Next to a holistic perspective based on comprehensive proposals on the issue of civic registration, accommodation and education, a ‘step by step’ approach appears a suitable realistic solution to each of the issues at stake. The Ombudsman, as systematic watch dog of national administrations and their structural deficits, can contribute considerably to such a perspective. Additionally to that, institutions armed with the mandate of the implementation of the anti-discrimination EU legislation appear as appropriate instruments for exercising pressure on the political authorities with a long term strategy of redefining the whole Roma agenda in Europe.
Eunomia workshop International justice for children May 19th 2009, Dubrovnik, Croatia
The Eunomia project, together with the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children and Save the Children – Norway, has supported the organization of the 4th Annual Conference of the South Eastern Europe Children’s Ombudspersons’ Network which took place in Dubrovnik, hosted and organized by the Ombudsman for Children of the Republic of Croatia in May 19th and 20th 2009.
Within the framework of the conference “Children and disputed divorces – Access for children to national, international and European justice”, Eunomia project organized a workshop entitled “International justice for children: How can children’s Ombudspersons disseminate information and assist children”.
The workshop was chaired by Mr Yorgos Moshos and Ms Marie Rossidou, Ombudmen for Children, respectively from Greece and Cyprus. Participants discussed in four groups and have been asked to submit their ideas and proposals about the content of a set of guidelines to be produced by ENOC on the following questions:
Are children sufficiently aware of international justice mechanisms? How do they know? Is this information included in their school curriculum?
How could children, who are involved in parental conflict situations, access national or international justice mechanisms to defend their rights?
How can children be assisted to know better and access international justice mechanisms? Are ombudsman offices capable and competent to do this? Who else?
How could all relevant information be presented and promoted among children at national level (via campaigns, seminars, leaflets, spots, internet etc)?
What could be the role of ombudspersons?
What is most important to be included in the information to be disseminated by ombudsman offices? How can the ombudsman contribute to the implementation of child-sensitive procedures by international justice mechanisms (especially if hearing of the child is required), protection of publicization of personal data (if anonymity is required) and other forms of rights protection?
Participants
Mr Yorgos Moshos – Children’s Rights Department, Office of the Greek Ombudsman
Ms Stamatina Poulou – Children’s Rights Department, Office of the Greek Ombudsman
Mr Riza Poda - Office of the Albanian Ombudsman
Mr Christian Theiss – Province of Styria, Austria
Ms Tatian Alekseeva - Moscow Child Ombudsman, Russian Federation
Ms Ankie Vandekerchove – Children’s Rights Department, Flanders, Belgium
Ms Sophie Magennis – Ombudsman for Children, Ireland
Ms Maia Gedevanishivli – Children’s Rights Center, Public Defender’s Office, Georgia
Mr Higues Feltesse - Institution of the Defender of Children, France
Ms Agata Jasztal - Ombudsman for Children, Poland
Ms Tanja Opacak - Ombudsperson for Children, Croatia
Ms Nevenka Krusarovska - Office of the Ombudsman of the fyr of Macedonia,
Ms Marie Rosssidou – Commissioner for Children’s rights Office, Cyprus
Ms Leda Koursoumba – Commissioner for Children’s rights Office, Cyprus
Ms Karmen Zammit - Commissioner for Children, Malta
Ms Tamara Lucsic-Orlandic – Children’s Rights Department, Office of the Serbian Ombusman
Ms Nevenca Stancovic – Children’s Rights Protection Section, Provincial Ombudsman of Voivodjna, Serbia
Mr Peter Newell – Independent expert, advisor to ENOC
Ms Polina Atanasova, ENOC Secretariat
Mr Dimitris Christopoulos, Eunomia Project Manager, Office of the Greek Ombudsman
Press Release
European workshop in Tirana:
Access to information: what can the Ombudsman do?
In the framework of the Eunomia project, the Albanian and the Greek Ombudsman organized a European workshop in Tirana, Albania (8th and 9th March 2009) entitled « Access to information: what can the Ombudsman do”.
The workshop was opened by H.E. the President of the Republic of Albania, Mr B. Topi as well as the Albanian and the Greek Ombudsman, E. Dobjani and Y. Kaminis.
The European Ombudsman N. Diamandouros, the Ombudsmen of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Mr. I. Memeti, of Montenegro Mr. Chernovancanin, of Serbia Mr. S. Jankovic, of Sweden Mr. M.Melin, the Hungarian Parliamentary Commissioner for Data M. A. Jori, as well as Mr. Á. Hutchinson, Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland, participated in the workshop.
The delegation of the Greek Ombudsman, headed by Mr Kaminis, comprised Deputy Ombudsman Ms K. Spanou, the senior investigators, Ms. E. Mavrommati, Ms. F. Pantelidou and Ms. I. Arsenopoulou as well as the Eunomia project manager Mr. D. Christopoulos. Delegations from the Ombudsman of the Czech Republic, Poland and Vojvodina (Serbia) also participated in the workshop.
A substantive discussion took place among the Ombudsman delegations regarding the crucial issue of access to information which is equally topical regarding the Ombudsman’s daily work as well as his long-term institutional strategy. Striking a balance between transparency and confidentiality on personal data has proven to be a difficult task for the Ombudsman’s office, particularly in an era of electronic information, intense legal protection of sensitive personal data, and finally, privatization of an integral part of the public sector to private bodies. These developments render access to information by the citizen even more complicated and difficult and consequently impact the Ombudsman’s role.
Special topics that attracted the participants’ interests were: environmental information, national security information, access to medical data, as well as criminal – prison information.
25-26 February 2009, Study visit to the Ombudsman of FYROM
On 25 and 26 February a study visit of a Greek Ombudsman delegation took place in Skopia. The delegation consisted of Deputy Ombudsman from the Quality of Life department, Ms Chrissi Hatzi, and Ms Angeliki Bosdogianni and Mr Nikos Vittis, senior investigators from the department of Quality of Life. The delegation carried out a capacity building work at the headquarters of the Ombudsman of the Republic of FYROM, on case handling related to environmental protection. The first day the presentation was attended by the deputy ombudsmen and the employees of the headquarters and the second day was attended by the deputy ombudsmen of the regional offices of the country. The presentations were followed by discussion on specific issues of case handling.
The presentation aimed at exchanging best practices on environmental mediation work and raising awareness on the role of the Ombudsman in environmental issues.
The Greek Ombudsman’s presentation focused on the following issues:
a general presentation of the Quality of Life Department, the mediation tools and practices used and the problems occurred in case-handling,
Case studies on environmental issues, illegal buildings and/or activities in environmentally protected areas, pollution by large industrial units, solid waste management, access to environmental information.
The environmental legislation, the EU framework, and case studies on water resources management, drinking water quality, solid and liquid waste management.
25 February 2009, Study visit to the Ombudsman of Bulgaria
On 25 February a study visit of a Greek Ombudsman delegation took place in Sofia. The delegation consisted of Ms Elena Stabouli and Ms Maria Apostolou, senior investigators from the Quality of Life department. The delegation carried out a capacity building work at the headquarters of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria, on case handling related to environmental protection. The presentation was attended by the Chief Expert of the “International Relations” Sector Mr. Christo Halatchev, the Head of “Education, Healthcare and Environment” Unit Ms. Julia Kassaliyska and two external consultants.
The presentation aimed at exchanging best practices on environmental mediation work and raising awareness on the role of the Ombudsman in environmental issues.
The Greek Ombudsman’s presentation focused on the following issues:
a general presentation of the Quality of Life Department, the mediation tools and practices used and the problems occurred in case-handling,
the environmental legislation and the EU framework, incorporation of the EC Directives by the member-states, the importance of Environmental Impact Assessment Studies, the application of the NATURA 2000 Network and the Ramsar Treaty
case studies on environmental issues, illegal buildings and/or activities in environmentally protected areas, pollution by large industrial units, solid waste management, access to environmental information.
The Georgian Public Defender celebrated its 10th anniversary with the support of the Eunomia project of the Greek Ombudsman
 
In the framework of the Eunomia project, the Georgian Public Defender, in cooperation with the Greek Ombudsman, organized an international conference entitled «Freedom of Expression: Striking the difficult balances for the Ombudsman». The conference took place on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the creation of the Public Defender’s institution, on 11th and 10th of February 2009, in Tbilisi, Georgia.
It is the first time, after the events of August 2008, that such an international event, gathering high ranking official in the field of human rights and rule of law, took place in Georgia in an admittedly difficult and transitional period for the country.
Delegations from the Ombudsman Offices from most European countries have participated in the conference. Mr Subari and Mr Kaminis, the respective Georgian and Greek Ombudsman respectively, as well as Mr Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, have opened the conference.
The major issue that arose from the conference was a reflection shared among all Ombudsman institutions present, on the particular role of the Ombudsman in transitional democracies, such as Georgia, sometimes voluntarily over-politicized when compared to the standards of consolidated rule of law regimes.
Eunomia project is implemented by the Greek Ombudsman, under the auspices of the office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe. Information: Dimitris Christopoulos:+ 30 210-7289662
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