The Regional Ombudsman of Valencia, José Cholbi, has opened this week a new own-initiative inquiry to verify in the field of secondary education (both compulsory and upper secondary education) whether there is still gender discrimination within the education system in our Region.

Schools – states the Ombudsman – are excellent places in which to educate from childhood in peaceful coexistence and to encourage critical reflection on inequalities. Education for democracy means to promote tolerance and respect and to ensure equal treatment and opportunities for men and women, thus preventing further cases of violence against women.

This institution has been working on equality and auditing the degree of compliance with both the Organic Law 3/2007 and Law 9/2003, April 2^nd, of the Generalitat, on Equality between Women and Men. Actually, the latter rule provides in Section 51 the creation of the Equality Ombudsman within the Síndic de Greuges (Regional Ombudsman Office), to monitor compliance with the provisions thereof.

In early November 2011 ,the Ombudsman issued a decision addressing several recommendations (see decision) to the Regional Public Universities, to the Regional Education, Training and Employment Department and to the Regional Culture and Tourism Department. In this paper, the Ombudsman requested, among other things, the introduction in all areas, departments and institutions of the principle of gender mainstreaming. That is the process of ensuring equality between women and men in any planned action (legislation, policies or programmes) in any area and at all levels. Cholbi also urged that  an assessment system must be implemented in all areas in order to check the real effectiveness of the adopted policies and programs.

Moreover, last year, the Regional Ombudsman dealt with a complaint about the use of sexist language in textbooks. In that case, the Regional Education Department accepted Cholbi’s suggestion to revise and adapt textbooks and teaching materials that may result in discrimination, in order to avoid those stereotypes and behaviours that may entail discrimination between women and men. (See resolution).

According to the Ombudsman, over recent decades, progress has been made on the issue of gender equality. However, we need to go further in this regard since there are still discriminatory behaviours and relationships in our society revealing inequality.

El síndic de Greuges de la Comunitat Valenciana, José Cholbi, ha mostrat la seua satisfacció per la ràpida resposta de l’Ajuntament de Borriana, en què l’informava del Decret de data 25 de novembre, dictat per l’alcalde a fi de resoldre com més prompte millor els problemes generats per l’escorxador comarcal.

Així, l’Ajuntament respon a la recomanació que el defensor del poble de la Comunitat Valenciana li va fer arribar el passat 20 de novembre, en la qual, tenint en compte la gravetat de la situació denunciada, Cholbi l’instava a accelerar la tramitació dels expedients incoats, per a aconseguir la ràpida eliminació de les fortes pudors que estan suportant injustament els veïns com a conseqüència dels abocaments d’aquell escorxador.

L’Ajuntament es basa en tot moment en l’informe emés pel cap de Servicis Tècnics, que apunta al fet que estes anomalies no corresponen a un abocament extraordinari i puntual -tal com insistix qui al·lega (l’escorxador)-, sinó que es referixen a fets reiterats i persistents, documentats com a mínim des de l’any 2002.

Per tot això, l’Ajuntament ha desestimat les al·legacions presentades per l’escorxador, en què s’assegurava que havien estat implantades les mesures necessàries per a resoldre i adequar l’abocament de les aigües depurades a les condicions establides en l’ordenança municipal, tot basant-se en l’esmentat informe del cap de Servicis Tècnics que manté que senzillament, això no era cert.

Així mateix, l’Ajuntament advertix l’escorxador que adoptarà les mesures pertinents per a la revocació de l’abocament i la seua clausura efectiva, si en un termini màxim de mes i mig no adopta les mesures correctores per a solucionar el problema dels abocaments i de les pudors esmentats.

The Regional Ombudsman of Valencia, José Cholbi, has recommended the City of Burriana to speed up the procedures opened in order to get rid of the strong odour from the local slaughterhouse waste which is being unfairly supported by neighbours.

That is the Valencian Ombudsman’s decision to the ex officio enquiry, opened last October, in order to investigate the awkward situation borne by residents of the area due to local slaughterhouse discharges into the city sewer system. It has been reported that, neighbours, as well as teachers and students from Villa Fatima, Penyagolosa and Salesianos School, are supporting this nuisance for several years.

The Council stated the Ombudsman that so far they had opened two infringement procedures: one of them to adopt corrective measures, and the other dealing with disciplinary actions for the waste discharged into municipal sewer system. According to the Council’s report it is causing unhealthy conditions near to the collector connection, which seriously compromises the smooth operation of biological purification treatment at the local sewage.

In view of the information provided by the City of Burriana, relating the proceeding of both corrective and disciplinary actions, the Ombudsman insists on the seriousness of the alleged situation and urges that procedures be carried out as soon as possible.

In this regard, the Ombudsman reminds the City of Burriana that the Courts are consistently stating that nuisance activities, such as slaughterhouse discharge, may have a destructive impact on the fundamental right to inviolability of homes as well as the constitutional rights to health, housing and an adequate environment. Therefore it is inescapable that public authorities are to ensure strong protection.

Furthermore, the Ombudsman informed the Mayor that the Valencian Statute of Autonomy provides that “everyone has a right to enjoy life and a healthy and balanced environment”

The Regional Ombudsman of Valencia, José Cholbi, together with the Regional Parliament President, Juan Cotino, and the Regional Secretary for Family Affairs and and Solidarity, Gotzone Mora have presided over the awards ceremony of the VIII Síndic de Greuges Drawing Contest.

More than one hundred students from different parts of the region have participated in the ceremony held in the Chamber of the Regional Valencian Parliament. The students have visited the site, and got familiar with the services and functions of the Valencian Chamber.

Before the prize-giving, some primary and secondary education students have recited the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The jury, who met last September at FUNDAR headquarters, agreed to award the following students whose works have best reflected human rights, especially those recognized in the Constitution of 1812.

Primary education winners:

• Paula Barnert Segovia. Colegio Alemán de Valencia.
• David Ferrer Tomás. Escola Les Carolines de Picassent.
• Aline Dieterlen Cuervo. Colegio San José H.F.I. de Valencia.
• Irene Roig Ferrando. CEIP Balmes de Guadassuar.
• Mónica Asensi Caicedo. CEIP Balmes de Guadassuar.

Primary consolation prizes are:

• Lara Fernández Sánchez. Escola Les Carolines de Picassent.
• Manel Segura Lozano. Escola Les Carolines de Picassent.

Secondary education winners are:

• Ignacio Zacarés Mansanet. Colegio San José de Calasanz de Valencia.
• Germán Ribera Marín. IES Biar.
• Ivan Bilaniuc. Sección del IES Alfonso XIII de Cabanes.
• Alicia Durán González. IES Fuente de San Luis de Valencia.
• Cristian Úbeda Crespo. IES Fuente de San Luis de Valencia.

Secondary consolation prizes are:

• Araceli Rubio Alonso, IES Professor Broch i Llop de Vila-Real.
• Erika Sofía Pintos Fernández. IES Riba-Roja. Riba-Roja de Túria.
• Irina Galera Valero. IES Professor Broch i Llop de Vila-Real.
• Paloma Jurado Mc Allister. Colegio El Armelar de Paterna.

The Mayor of Vila d’Olocau, Antonio Wardrobe, has addressed the Ombudsman to explicitly accept Cholbi’s recommendation concerning municipal waste collection service.

The Regional Ombudsman took part in this case once he received complaints from several neighbours whose houses where placed in the affected area of the Natural Park La Calderona.

According to complainants, collection and transport of solid waste rates are being forwarded, and they claimed that there is neither containers nor waste collection service at any time, so as one of them states the garbage I generate, I take it to my habitual residence. It seems that the closest container is more than 2 kilometres from the houses. In addition, neighbours complained that after filing several review appeals that are not yet solved, the council keeps on dispatching enforced recovery surcharge and fee receipts.

As a result of the Ombudsman’s case investigation, Cholbi recommended the Council to place containers closer to those affected houses. Regarding the rates already submitted, he requested whether to revoke the settlement issued in waste rates to those owners who have to move more than 300 metres around to get to the closest container or reduce the amount when appropriate. According to the Ombudsman, garbing collection service is not being provided effectively to those people. Finally, Cholbi reminded the Council of its obligation to answer citizens’ request in good time and in an appropriate manner.

The Regional Ombudsman of Valencia, José Cholbi, has received the response from the City Council, through the Councillor of Relations with the Ombudsman, Vicente Igual, accepting the Ombudsman’s decision dated in August this year, in which Cholbi asked to take the necessary measures to preserve the land and fencing in proper safe and healthy conditions.

Cholbi opened this inquiry after receiving a complaint from a neighbour whose house adjoined a plot of land in Ruaya Street destined to build a parking and a garden on its top. In her letter to the Ombudsman, the complainant stated that the works began several years ago, then they were brought to a halt because of the archaeological remains found in the plot. The search came to an end, and since then the land has been in poor sanitary conditions. This situation is causing discomfort among neighbours due to the presence of garbage, rodents and insects.

In this context, once the Ombudsman had received the initial report from Valencia Town Hall and the respective complainant’s claim, he made a decision on this case; he reminded Valencia Town Hall that according to Section 206 of the Act 16/2005 de 30 de diciembre, Urbanística Valenciana (LUV) los propietarios de los terrenos, construcciones y edificios deberán mantenerlos en condiciones de seguridad, salubridad, ornato público y decoro, realizando los trabajos y obras precisas para conservar o habilitar en ellos las condiciones imprescindibles de habitabilidad ( …). Section 212.1 of this Act provides the possibility of dictar órdenes de ejecución de obras de reparación, conservación y rehabilitación que puedan conminar, asimismo, a la limpieza, el vallado, retirada de cartels u otros elementos impropios del inmueble.

For all the above, Cholbi has expressed his satisfaction today with the Councillor’s response, in which Mr. Leal reports, among other things, that he has adopted the necessary steps to undertake appropriate measures in order to clean, fill and finally leave the plot in the same conditions prior to the start of the work. Moreover, Mr. Leal has instructed the Delegation of Traffic and Transportation to take the necessary procedures regarding the monitoring and satisfactory resolution of this particular complaint.

Please click here in case you want to see the Ombudsman’s decision in Spanish.

The Regional Ombudsman of Valencia has reiterated to the Dictorate-General for RTVV the responsibility to enhance its program planning in Valencian language. Moreover, given the current economic situation of the Regional Television Channel, José Cholbi suggests that, according to the budgetary availability, the Directorate-General for RTVV should arbitrate all the necessary measures to increase progressively the program planning and format in Valencian language.

José Cholbi addressed the Directorate-General for RTVV after receiving a particular complaint in which the complainant alleged that the Regional Television Channel regularly screened foreign series dubbed into Spanish, while other regional television channels, within our linguistic system, do screen series in dubbed regional languages. The complainant cited some of these series’ titles, such as Domage, Vampire Diaries, The Guardian and Hawthorne.

RTVV reported to the Ombudsman’s initial request for information that both the regional radio and TV promote the development of the Valencian language and culture in almost all channels’ programme schedules. Canal 9 broadcasts 24 hours mainly in Valencian language, the same happens with Canal 9/24, broadcasting programs, reports, interviews and documentaries. Canal 9 Dos broadcast 24 hours entirely in Valencian.

Furthermore, López Jaraba keeps on reporting that both Radio 9 and Si Ràdio entirely broadcast in Valencian language, as well as modern multimedia products which offer universal access in both official languages at the Valencian Region.

At the insistence of the Regional Ombudsman to increase its production in Valencian language, López Jaraba refers to the Spanish speaking population to defend those punctual programs and those time slots in Spanish as a vehicular language – since Spanish is an absolutely official language in this Region – which justifies the right to broadcast such programs. The RTVV director adds Do not forget that we have two official languages in the Valencian Region, Valencian and Spanish, which have the same value for the Government and its public institutions and companies, as in the case of RTVV.

In response to Lopez Jaraba’s report, José Cholbi has reiterated that regional television schedules should increase gradually Valencian programs and formats.

The Regional Ombudsman of Valencia, José Cholbi, has addressed Cullera City Council and the Conselleria of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment to recommend, within their respective competencies , to do their utmost to ensure that development works are completed promptly and therefore to allow the occupation of 72 public houses built in the Xúquer Boulevard in Cullera.

This is the response of the Valencian Regional Ombudsman to the complaint filed by an affected person reporting that, after two and a half years waiting for their houses, once they are completed, we cannot move in because there is no light.

Cholbi’s decision reminds Administrations that according to section 143 of the LUV (Valencia Development Law) la demora injustificada durante la realización y terminación de las obras, salvo las prórrogas que procedan, será objeto de análogas penalidades a las previstas en la legislación general de contratación administrativa relativa al contrato de obras (…). Moreover, Cholbi also adds that section 165.2 of that Law states that (…) el propietario que contribuya a las cargas de la urbanización podrá exigir que el urbanizador la ejecute con la diligencia de un buen empresario y que la administración actuante tutele la actuación (…)

According to the Ombudsman, taking into consideration the aforementioned sections of the LUV, Cullera City Council should take all measures within its power to ensure that development works are completed as soon as possible. For its part, the Conselleria of Infrastructure, Planning and the Environment “should also promote the solution of technical problems related to electricity supply and take appropriate measures to prevent further delays in the completion and delivery of properties, inconveniencing legitimate owners, who fear losing the aids and funding received. “

The Ombudsman is fully aware of the problems that the economic crisis has generated in the urban development of Valencian municipalities. However, in this specific case, Cholbi is convinced that families and people suffering undue delay in their properties delivery bear the worst of this crisis. Therefore, the ombudsman expects that both the City Council and the mentioned Conselleria be sensitive and open to these difficulties so that these people can finally live in their homes as soon as possible.

Legal texts are published in their original language