Sindic de Greuges de Catalunya
<base href="http://t3urednik.sigov.si/varuh-rs/typo3/" />
Sindic de Greuges de Catalunya, Spain
REPORT ON THE FIRST COURSE AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE SÍNDIC DE GREUGES DE CATALUNYA (CATALONIAN OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTION) FOR JURISTS OF THE OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTIONS EXISTING IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.
(Barcelona, from the 4th to the 10th of March, 1999)
Introduction
A course was given for the advisors of the Ombudsman Institutions of Bosnia-Herzegovina, taking place at the headquarters of the Síndic de Greuges de Catalunya (the Catalonian Ombudsman Institution, hereafter referred to as the Síndic) from the 4th to the 10th of March, 1999.
Five jurists attended from the Ombudsman Institution of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina:
- Mr. Sead Bahtijarević (Advisor to the Ombudsmen of the Sarajevo Office)
- Mr. Mladen Barbarić (Advisor to the Ombudsmen of the Mostar Office)
- Mr. Đuro Globek (Deputy Ombudsman of the Zenica Office)
- Mr. Tomislav Ljubić (Deputy Ombudsman of the Tuzla Office)
- Mr. Branislav Versić (Deputy Ombudsman of the Bihač Office)
Also attending the course was Mr. Zlatko Kulenović, advisor to the Office of the Ombudsperson of Bosnia-Herzegovina in Banja Luka.
This course represented the first step towards materialising the Síndic’s desire to collaborate with their colleagues in Bosnia-Herzegovina in a practical way. This desire to collaborate was based on the Síndic’s wish to respond to the call which the three representatives of the Ombudsman Institution of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina – Vera Jovanović, Esad Muhibić and Branka Raguz – made at the European Ombudsman Institution Board of Director’s Meeting (Amsterdam, November of 1997) requesting assistance from all the member institutions of the EOI.
These three Ombudspeople were invited to Barcelona by the Síndic from the 9th to the 12th of June, 1998. This was a very useful visit as far as specifying the needs of their Institution and the way in which the Síndic could collaborate. At the same time, it allowed the Ombudspeople to discover the legal and political situation in Catalonia.
During the visit of the three Ombudspeople, an Agreement was signed between the Spanish National Ombudsman, the Bar Association of Madrid and the Síndic on the 10th of June at the Bar Association Offices in Madrid, in which the three institutions agreed to obtain funding to carry out permanent co-operation activities with the Ombudsman Institutions existing in Bosnia-Herzegovina. As a result of this Agreement, a co-operation program for 1999 was established, financed jointly by the Foreign Ministry’s Spanish Agency for International Co-operation and the three signing institutions.
The afore-mentioned co-operation program includes a series of activities to be carried out both here as well as in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Two training courses to be given at the headquarters of the signing institutions for the jurists of the Bosnian Ombudsman Institutions, seminars in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the establishment of two Spanish jurists in Bosnia-Herzegovina for a minimum of four months.
In this introduction, we have attempted to briefly explain the justification, precedents and context of this course. The development and contents of the co-operation program is explained in depth in Annex 10 of the Síndic de Greuges’ 1998 Report.
First training course at the Sindic Headquarters
The topics and contents of the course were established by the Síndic’s Co-ordinator for Co-operation with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Judit Salas, based on the suggestions of the two Ombudsman Institutions on the trip to Sarajevo last October of a work group representing the Síndic as well as the Spanish National Ombudsman and the Bar Associa -tion of Madrid.
The aim of the course was to show the Bosnian jurists how the Síndic functioned from a completely practical point of view. To this end and with the help of the interpret who was to translate during the course, various documentation was translated into Bosnian as well as into English in order to facilitate the course participants’ comprehension. The work sessions were conducted by different Institution personnel depending on the topic in question. The four work sessions took place on the 4th, 5th, 8th and 9th of March, mornings and afternoons. Morning sessions lasted three-four hours, and the afternoon sessions lasted two-three hours. This schedule could be modified by institutional visits.
The course was officially inaugurated by the Síndic, which personally welcomed the participants and introduced their collaborators.
Work Sessions
The presentations were given as follows:
4th March
11:00h: Introductory Session on the Institution of the Síndic de Greuges, given by Neus París (Area Advisor) and Xavier Bover (Head of Cabinet)
17:00h: Records and Data Base of Complaints and Resolutions, by Carme Canadilla (in charge of Records) and Alícia Posada (in charge of the resolutions data base)
5th March
10:00h: Citizen Service, by Manel Sanz and Sílvia V?rnia (Advisors of the Citizens’ Information Service)
8th March
10:00h: Procedures and Actions of the Síndic de Greuges (I), by Elisabeth Abella (General Secretary), M. Josep Juan-Torres (Area Advisor), Jordi Cots (Deputy of the Síndic for Children’s Affairs), Montse Cusó (Area Advisor), and Alexandra Sol? (Area Advisor)
16:30h: Procedures and Actions of the Síndic de Greuges (II), by Pilar Busquiel (Area Advisor) and Joaquim Soler (Area Advisor)
9th March
10:00h: Applying the Sentences of the Human Rights Court of Strasbourg in the State of Spain, by Neus París (Area Advisor)
11:00h: The Role of the Ombudsman as Mediator. The Ombudsman and the Press, by Enric Bartlett (Deputy to the Síndic de Greuges)
12:00h: Relationship of the Síndic with the Spanish National Ombudsman and Collaboration with other Ombudsmen, by Enric Bartlett (Deputy to the Síndic de Greuges)
16:30h: Drawing Up Suggestions and Recommendations. Proposals for Effectiveness. Alternatives when a Proposal is not Accepted, by Enric Bartlett (Deputy to the Síndic de Greuges)
18:00h: Conclusion
Institutional visits
In addition to the work sessions, some institutional visits were also organised to allow the Bosnian delegation to see the most relevant public institutions of Catalonia and Barcelona first-hand.
Thus, on the morning of the 5th of March, the Bosnian representatives were received by the President of the Parliament of Catalonia and by the Commission of the Síndic. On the 10th of March, they visited the Generalitat Palace (seat of the Catalan Government), where they were received by the General Secretary of the President’s Office. On the same day they also visited the Barcelona City Council. The Bosnian jurists expressly stated their satisfaction with the cordial reception given them by all of these institutions.
Overall Course Evaluation
The Síndic evaluates the course very positively, since its program provided the Bosnian delegation a wide perspective on the institution of the Síndic, how it functions, and its social significance. Not only were they given technical knowledge on the actions of the Síndic, but also an idea of our legal and political system.
During the course of the sessions, the jurists explained to us the difficulties they were faced with in carrying out their tasks, allowing our country to gain knowledge on their situation.
In order to insure that the course contents would be as useful as possible for the participants, it began with a general program which was adapted to the specific demands of the participants as the course went along. Hence, in the section on the procedures and actions of the Síndic, the advisors giving the presentations were those in charge of the areas for which the participants had shown interest on the first day. For this same reason, an unforeseen presentation on applying the European Human Rights Court’s sentences to the state of Spain was added to the program after the arrival of the Bosnian representatives.
The attendants actively participated in all the sessions. They appreciated the institution’s efforts for making the work sessions so practical, and stated that the experience gained during the course would be of great use to them in their country.
The course definitely provided the ideal environment for jurists from both countries to exchange experiences on both a professional and human level, and served to demonstrate through actions and not just words the support of our institutions for those people and organisations fighting in hostile territory for the defence of human rights and the democratisation of society.
Newsletter No. 18
Sindic de Greuges de Catalunya, Spain
REPORT ON THE FIRST COURSE AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE SĂŤNDIC DE GREUGES DE CATALUNYA (CATALONIAN OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTION) FOR JURISTS OF THE OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTIONS EXISTING IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.
(Barcelona, from the 4th to the 10th of March, 1999)
Introduction
A course was given for the advisors of the Ombudsman Institutions of Bosnia-Herzegovina, taking place at the headquarters of the SĂndic de Greuges de Catalunya (the Catalonian Ombudsman Institution, hereafter referred to as the SĂndic) from the 4th to the 10th of March, 1999.
Five jurists attended from the Ombudsman Institution of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina:
- Mr. Sead Bahtijareviæ (Advisor to the Ombudsmen of the Sarajevo Office)
- Mr. Mladen Barbariæ (Advisor to the Ombudsmen of the Mostar Office)
- Mr. Ăuro Globek (Deputy Ombudsman of the Zenica Office)
- Mr. Tomislav Ljubiæ (Deputy Ombudsman of the Tuzla Office)
- Mr. Branislav Versiæ (Deputy Ombudsman of the Bihač Office)
Also attending the course was Mr. Zlatko Kulenoviæ, advisor to the Office of the Ombudsperson of Bosnia-Herzegovina in Banja Luka.
This course represented the first step towards materialising the SĂndic’s desire to collaborate with their colleagues in Bosnia-Herzegovina in a practical way. This desire to collaborate was based on the SĂndic’s wish to respond to the call which the three representatives of the Ombudsman Institution of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina – Vera Jovanoviæ, Esad Muhibiæ and Branka Raguz – made at the European Ombudsman Institution Board of Director’s Meeting (Amsterdam, November of 1997) requesting assistance from all the member institutions of the EOI.
These three Ombudspeople were invited to Barcelona by the SĂndic from the 9th to the 12th of June, 1998. This was a very useful visit as far as specifying the needs of their Institution and the way in which the SĂndic could collaborate. At the same time, it allowed the Ombudspeople to discover the legal and political situation in Catalonia.
During the visit of the three Ombudspeople, an Agreement was signed between the Spanish National Ombudsman, the Bar Association of Madrid and the SĂndic on the 10th of June at the Bar Association Offices in Madrid, in which the three institutions agreed to obtain funding to carry out permanent co-operation activities with the Ombudsman Institutions existing in Bosnia-Herzegovina. As a result of this Agreement, a co-operation program for 1999 was established, financed jointly by the Foreign Ministry’s Spanish Agency for International Co-operation and the three signing institutions.
The afore-mentioned co-operation program includes a series of activities to be carried out both here as well as in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Two training courses to be given at the headquarters of the signing institutions for the jurists of the Bosnian Ombudsman Institutions, seminars in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the establishment of two Spanish jurists in Bosnia-Herzegovina for a minimum of four months.
In this introduction, we have attempted to briefly explain the justification, precedents and context of this course. The development and contents of the co-operation program is explained in depth in Annex 10 of the SĂndic de Greuges’ 1998 Report.
Â
First training course at the Sindic Headquarters
The topics and contents of the course were established by the SĂndic’s Co-ordinator for Co-operation with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Judit Salas, based on the suggestions of the two Ombudsman Institutions on the trip to Sarajevo last October of a work group representing the SĂndic as well as the Spanish National Ombudsman and the Bar Associa -tion of Madrid.
The aim of the course was to show the Bosnian jurists how the SĂndic functioned from a completely practical point of view. To this end and with the help of the interpret who was to translate during the course, various documentation was translated into Bosnian as well as into English in order to facilitate the course participants’ comprehension. The work sessions were conducted by different Institution personnel depending on the topic in question. The four work sessions took place on the 4th, 5th, 8th and 9th of March, mornings and afternoons. Morning sessions lasted three-four hours, and the afternoon sessions lasted two-three hours. This schedule could be modified by institutional visits.
The course was officially inaugurated by the SĂndic, which personally welcomed the participants and introduced their collaborators.
Work Sessions
The presentations were given as follows:
4th March
11:00h: Introductory Session on the Institution of the SĂndic de Greuges, given by Neus ParĂs (Area Advisor) and Xavier Bover (Head of Cabinet)
17:00h: Records and Data Base of Complaints and Resolutions, by Carme Canadilla (in charge of Records) and AlĂcia Posada (in charge of the resolutions data base)
5th March
10:00h: Citizen Service, by Manel Sanz and SĂlvia V?rnia (Advisors of the Citizens’ Information Service)
8th March
10:00h: Procedures and Actions of the SĂndic de Greuges (I), by Elisabeth Abella (General Secretary), M. Josep Juan-Torres (Area Advisor), Jordi Cots (Deputy of the SĂndic for Children’s Affairs), Montse CusĂł (Area Advisor), and Alexandra Sol? (Area Advisor)
16:30h: Procedures and Actions of the SĂndic de Greuges (II), by Pilar Busquiel (Area Advisor) and Joaquim Soler (Area Advisor)
9th March
10:00h: Applying the Sentences of the Human Rights Court of Strasbourg in the State of Spain, by Neus ParĂs (Area Advisor)
11:00h: The Role of the Ombudsman as Mediator. The Ombudsman and the Press, by Enric Bartlett (Deputy to the SĂndic de Greuges)
12:00h: Relationship of the SĂndic with the Spanish National Ombudsman and Collaboration with other Ombudsmen, by Enric Bartlett (Deputy to the SĂndic de Greuges)
16:30h: Drawing Up Suggestions and Recommendations. Proposals for Effectiveness. Alternatives when a Proposal is not Accepted, by Enric Bartlett (Deputy to the SĂndic de Greuges)
18:00h: Conclusion
Â
Institutional visits
In addition to the work sessions, some institutional visits were also organised to allow the Bosnian delegation to see the most relevant public institutions of Catalonia and Barcelona first-hand.
Thus, on the morning of the 5th of March, the Bosnian representatives were received by the President of the Parliament of Catalonia and by the Commission of the SĂndic. On the 10th of March, they visited the Generalitat Palace (seat of the Catalan Government), where they were received by the General Secretary of the President’s Office. On the same day they also visited the Barcelona City Council. The Bosnian jurists expressly stated their satisfaction with the cordial reception given them by all of these institutions.
Overall Course Evaluation
The SĂndic evaluates the course very positively, since its program provided the Bosnian delegation a wide perspective on the institution of the SĂndic, how it functions, and its social significance. Not only were they given technical knowledge on the actions of the SĂndic, but also an idea of our legal and political system.
During the course of the sessions, the jurists explained to us the difficulties they were faced with in carrying out their tasks, allowing our country to gain knowledge on their situation.
In order to insure that the course contents would be as useful as possible for the participants, it began with a general program which was adapted to the specific demands of the participants as the course went along. Hence, in the section on the procedures and actions of the SĂndic, the advisors giving the presentations were those in charge of the areas for which the participants had shown interest on the first day. For this same reason, an unforeseen presentation on applying the European Human Rights Court’s sentences to the state of Spain was added to the program after the arrival of the Bosnian representatives.
The attendants actively participated in all the sessions. They appreciated the institution’s efforts for making the work sessions so practical, and stated that the experience gained during the course would be of great use to them in their country.
The course definitely provided the ideal environment for jurists from both countries to exchange experiences on both a professional and human level, and served to demonstrate through actions and not just words the support of our institutions for those people and organisations fighting in hostile territory for the defence of human rights and the democratisation of society.
