EL BLOG DE LA FIIAPP. Cooperación Española

By the end of last year, after just nine months of operation, the Turkish Ombudsman had received over 7,000 complaints according to the institution’s own statistics. The main sources of dissatisfaction: the civil service, local administrations, education, access to the university, and social security. “We’re working to assist citizens in matters that concern them. We’re also trying to avoid problems between citizens and the administrations, and help administrations improve their services”, the first and current Turkish Ombudsman, Nihat Ömeroglu, explains to the FIIAPP.

A recently created institution that is independent of the Government and has a long road ahead of it. “I hope it is respected and effective figure. I suppose that a country as large as Turkey, with such an enormous population, is complex, but they will be capable of designing an organization that encompasses the entire territory and reaches all citizens. We are going to show them how we operate, orient them and provide all the necessary information and help to also make it a very effective ombudsman, indicates Spanish Ombudsman Soledad Becerril. This institutionadds 30 years of experience to that of France, which the two countries will work to share with Turkey in the course of this two-year cooperation project financed by the EU with 1.6 million euros.

Assistance to refugees

In addition to focusing on the most common complaints, the Turkish Ombudsman wishes to assist with other types of needs, such as helping the Syrian population migrating to Turkey to escape the civil war that has been plaguing that country for the past four years. According to Amnesty International, a total of 1.6 million Syrians have crossed the Turkish border since 2011, of which 220,000 live in refugee camps. The rest of the Syrian population in Turkey is living in different parts of the country. “They are very interested in talking about immigration with a country like Spain and an institution like this one”, emphasizes Carmen Comas-Mata, head of the Office of the Ombudsman in Spain and the Spanish director of the project FIIAPP is managing. This same institution will make Turkey focus on other issues, such as the prevention of torture in prisons. “We are the national mechanism of torture prevention in Spain; in Turkey, they are not, but they are also able to visit detention facilities, and therefore we are also going to try to help them in this as well, and to tell them how they might do things”, adds the expert.

From paper to practice

The goal is clear: now all that is needed is to take the steps to reach it. Steps that have been materializing since last April with a preliminary identification of needs by the Turkish Ombudsman, followed by theoretical and practical training and experience exchanges from Spanish experts to Turkish ones, in addition to a review of the legislation pertaining to this institution according to that of other countries in the European Union. All for the purpose of strengthening its management.

“The training sessions must focus, above all, on the process of managing complaints, in other words, how the incoming complaint is managed up to when the Ombudsman provides a solution”, explains Arantxa Díaz, the FIIAPP expert sent to coordinate the project on the ground, but she adds, also on the area of the rights of women, children, individuals deprived of their liberty and refugees. Turkish civil servants will also be trained, both in Turkey and in Spain and France, to mediate between citizens and the Administration, and to establish relationships between the institution and Parliament, other public institutions and NGOs. They will also be trained on how to strengthen the channels for publicizing the institution which is, at the moment, not well known—“how to introduce itself on the Internet, social network and in the news media”, explains Díaz regarding her communication plan.

Within this area, the Spanish Ombudsman will review the complete independence of its Turkish counterpart, as without this, the ultimate benefit of the project will not be achieved: protection of the rights of Turkish citizens.

With good reason, the equality of men and women and protecting women from violence occupies a leading role in the European Union-Latin America Dialogue. The efforts of public authorities and civil society on both sides of the Atlantic continue to be focused on reducing the incidence of a culturally-rooted phenomenon based on persistent inequality, how power is understood and the way that relationships between men and women have historically been structured. The challenge is therefore immense and represents one of the most important hurdles facing institutions, organizations and public decision-makers in the last two decades. The kick-off milestone for American countries was the Belem do Pará Convention on preventing, penalizing and eradicating violence against women, the 20th anniversary of which happens to be this year.

EUROsociAL accompanies institutions in the justice, security, health, employment and education sectors in the region as they explore and deepen public policy solutions to tackle a problem that is both global and multifaceted in its manifestations. The contributions have been varied, from national to regional, ranging from legislative support to the construction of coordination mechanisms and statistical measurement. Here are some of the most significant ones:

April 2008.The Congress of the Republic of Guatemala approves the Law Against Femicide and Other Forms of Violence Against Women.

March 2009. Costa Rica launches the Unified System of Statistical Measurement for Gender Violence.

November 2013. In the AIAMP (Ibero-American Association of Public Ministries), 20 Ibero-American Public Ministries approve the Regional protocol for applying a gender perspective in the investigation of violent crimes against women committed in the family setting.

September 2014-February 2015. Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama and Paraguay adopt the regional investigation protocol nationally through instruments adapted to the realities of each country affecting investigation by the Public Ministry and its coordination with the police and security forces.

The work from institutions and for institutions at times leaves unaddressed the matter of improving people’s living conditions—the ultimate objective of policies that often require lengthier processes to materialize—in terms of implementation on the ground. EUROsociAL already has a perspective based on 10 years of work in Latin America through its two phases and verification that women now have more mechanisms and resources to ensure their access to justice and social services when victimized by gender violence.

The work perspective for 2015 includes improvement of assistance services to victims of violence in seven countries in the region, within the framework of the protocol for comprehensive assistance to victims backed by the Conference of Ministers of Justice of the Ibero-American Countries (COMJIB), and promotion of over 30 institutions in different sectors involved in this process at the national level.

This European project isworking in countries like Senegal. Senegal has a bay, Hann Bay, which is an example of how environmental pollution can endanger public health. A water treatment plant needs to be installed to clean up all the pollution and filter the water before it reaches the sea.

But we’re not just talking about pollution. The “Management of hazardous chemical and biological waste in the African Atlantic Façade region and Tunisia” project must confront another great problem.The Ebola virus has emerged in some of the countries involved (Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Togo, Gabon and Tunisia). Poor handling of biological wastes increases the possibilities of Ebola infection. For this reason, the project will include the fight against the virus among its objectives and activities.

This project is being financed by the European Union as part of the CBRN Excellence Centres initiative.

The current outbreak of Ebola is the largest in history and the first to occur in West African countries. It is affecting several countries in this region (Liberia, Guinea Conakry and Sierra Leone). Because of the way the virus is spread, it does not represent a significant risk for countries distant from the African continent or for the rest of the world.

As of 1st October, the number of reported cases and deaths are as follows:

– Guinea: 1,199 cases and 739 deaths;
– Liberia: 3,834 cases and 2,069 deaths;
– Sierra Leone: 2,437 cases and 623 deaths;
– Nigeria: 20 cases and 8 deaths (latest case confirmed in Lagos on 5th September, 2014)
– Senegal: 1 case, no deaths. Case confirmed on 28th August, 2014

On 6th October, Spanish authorities reported one confirmed case of Ebola in a healthcare professional who participated in the treatment of a Spanish citizen infected with Ebola in Africa and repatriated to Spain. The infection of this nurse’s aide represents the first case of transmission of the Ebola virus in the European Union.

What is Ebola virus disease?
This fatal and rare disease is caused by infection with one of the strains of the Ebola virus (Zaire, Sudan, Bundibugyo or Taï Forest ebolavirus). The Ebola viruses are found in several African countries. The Ebola virus was discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is today the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, there have been sporadic outbreaks of Ebola in various African countries.

What are the signs and symptoms of Ebola virus disease?
The signs and symptoms of Ebola include fever (above 38.6°C) intense headache, muscular aches, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain or unexplained bleeding or bruising. The symptoms may appear between 2 and 21 days after exposure to the Ebola virus, but most commonly appear between 8 and 10 days.

How the Ebola virus is spread
The virus is transmitted through direct contact (through broken skin or cuts, or mucous membranes) with the blood or bodily fluids (urine, faeces, saliva, vomit or semen) of a person who has Ebola virus disease; or through animals (game), monkeys, apes and bats; or with objects, such as needles, contaminated with the virus. The Ebola virus is not transmitted through air or water or, in general, through food; nevertheless, in Africa the Ebola virus can be spread through the handling of meat from wild animals (game) and contact with infected bats.
There is no evidence that it can be spread by mosquitoes or other insects.

Who is most at risk of contracting Ebola?
Healthcare professional who treat patients who have Ebola virus disease, and the family members and friends of infected people who are in close contact with sick people through transmission via blood or other bodily fluids.

Can I catch Ebola from an infected person who does not have a fever or show any symptoms?
No. People infected with the Ebola virus are not contagious until symptoms appear.

Can an Ebola survivor still spread the disease after recovery?
People who recover from Ebola can no longer spread the virus. Nevertheless, the Ebola virus can be found in semen for up to three months. It is recommended that people who have recovered from Ebola abstain from sexual relations or use condoms for the following three months.

How is Ebola treated?
There is no vaccine or specific drug that has been proven to prevent or cure Ebola. The signs and symptoms of Ebola are treated as they appear. The following basic treatment measures can increase the probability of survival if used from the beginning.

– Administer fluids and electrolytes.
– Maintain adequate oxygen and blood pressure levels.
– Treat other infections that appear.

It is important to detect Ebola early in order to provide adequate care to the patient and to prevent the infection from spreading.

How can I protect myself from the Ebola virus?
If you are currently in an area affected by an outbreak of Ebola, or are going to travel to one, you can protect yourself by taking the following measures:

– Wash your hands frequently.
– Avoid any contact with the blood and bodily fluids of any person,
especially anyone who is ill.
– Do not touch objects that may have come into contact with the blood or
bodily fluids of someone who is infected.
– Do not touch the body of any person who has died of
Ebola.
– Do not touch bats or non-human primates or their blood or bodily
fluids, and do not touch or eat raw meat from
these animals.
– Avoid going to hospitals where patients with Ebola
are being treated.
– Seek medical attention immediately if any of the signs or symptoms of
the disease appear
– Limit your contact with other people until you can see a doctor.
Do not travel or go anywhere except to go to a centre for
medical treatment.

The World Health Organisation has issued an advisory for travellers going to or returning from affected zones. More information here.

A TV ad for an airline and a video clip for a Nigerien singer. These were just two of the projects brought to life by a group of ten Nigeriens after a month of training in audio-visual production under the umbrella of the ACERCA cultural programmeof the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). Training opportunities in this sector in Niger are not abundant and the workshop was free of charge. Result of the demand: a waiting list. The ten students selected for the workshop, all professionals in the audio-visual and journalism sector, were trained in scouting shooting locations, staging, filming and editing.

This programme, with the support of the FIIAPP, has been promoting culture as an engine of development for the past decade. “After completing the training, I think that we will be able to produce professional video clips of local artists, and also advertisements on the same level as international ones”, explains Mohamed Elquedir, a 33-year-old workshop participant. This translates, for example, into the production of television advertisements with a duration of one minute or less than 60 seconds, shorter than the ones being produced up to now.

This workshop was conceived of as a way to leverage Nigerien human capital in this area and to respond to local demand. “In Africa in particular, there is a very evident interest in building bridges, especially with Europe, where production companies often have relationships with local African film production companies and where there is a large audience. Cinema for many of these countries is still a very minimal portion of Gross National Product (GNP), but it offers great potential through new technologies, as in the case of Niger: social networks, advertising, television…”, explains Guillermo Escribano, Head of the Department of Cooperation and Cultural Promotion of the AECID.

Culture, a tool of cooperation
The FIIAPP joined this programme because it considers culture to be another working tool for promoting social cohesion and economic development in countries like Niger. “We are promoting the power of culture as an engine of development, of combating poverty and social exclusion”, indicates Isabel Ramos, Director of Special Programmes of the FIIAPP.

Mohamed and his colleagues showed great interest during the workshop last September. “The students are motivated because they were pre-selected, as there was not space for everyone because of the stipulation that the group had to be limited to 15 people to better organize the workshop, explains Eric Rivot, the instructor and member of the production company responsible for designing the content, Termites Films. Rivot also highlights the democratic and participatory nature of the course, which includes collective decision-making and the selection of topics and filming locations of the final workshop projects. If both projects are approved, the work of these students will start appearing on television.

The ACERCA programme will continue its activities and, from now on, will enjoy the support of the FIIAPP to continue promoting culture as an engine of development all over the world.

You can hear the words of Mohamed and the rest of the protagonists in this story on the FIIAPP’s radio programme “Public cooperation around the worldon Radio 5, All News (RNE).

Cultura, herramienta para la Cooperación

“Clearly, prison conditions affect later re-integration into society and prevention of recidivism”, asserts Mercedes Herrera. Prison overcrowding is just the tip of the iceberg of an issue with multiple emergent consequences, such as health and coexistence problems, that complicate the social re-integration of inmates. Herrera, who is also one of the experts sent by the FIIAPP to Algeria to participate in the EC project in support of the reform of the Algerian prison system: “Programme supporting reform of the prison system in Algeria 2008-2014”, states that this network of problems makes it impossible to apply individualized rehabilitation approaches to the inmates.

“Up until now, and not only in Algeria, people believed in this outmoded vision of prison treatment where work and training amounted to rehabilitation work: if we’re capable of preparing people to do a job and training them, then illiterates enter prison and leave with an education. This only consisted of rehabilitating the prison population. It has been recognized and proven that this is not the case”, says Andreu Estela, the FIIAPP Programme Coordinator. Today, Algeria has adopted all of the UN and Council of Europe guidelines and recommendations for introducing individualized treatment for inmates into prisons.

In the years prior to the start of the Programme, the number of people in prison had increased due to the increase in petty crime, drug trafficking and terrorism. When inmates entered prison, they received a common treatment. “Today, the inmate undergoes a diagnostic evaluation upon entering prison, and, based on that, an individualized treatment programme is established depending on the person’s crime and problems”, explains Estela. A treatment that is, moreover, directed by specialized staff, hired as a result of this reform, which includes psychologists, social workers, teachers, trainers and monitors. The FIIAPP expert states that this dynamic changes the functioning of the Algerian prison system. “It’s been brought up to date and to the same level we have in Europe”, he points out.

With this Programme, which is the working framework between the Algerian Justice Ministry, the Delegation of the European Union and the Spanish Directorate-General for Prison Administration and Social Re-integration, Algeria has taken inspiration from international guidelines and standards for the reform of its prison system, developed a plan to build 80 new prisons, of which 13 are up and running, and improved facilities and developed training courses and workshops for inmates and also staff. “Before, there were 133 prisons and now there are 131, but there are more spaces”, says Estela, putting the data into context. All of these measures are starting to breathe new life into the Algerian prison system and reduce prison density, although this still exceeds the limits: 150 inmates for every 100 spaces. The FIIAPP expert calls this statistic “positive”. “However, the main achievement has been the change in mentality regarding treatment of inmates”, he adds.

In 2013, according to the International Centre for Prison Studiesand based on official data, Algeria, a country with nearly 37 million inhabitants, had a total of 60,000 inmates. The prison density in the country was growing (160 people for every 100,000 inhabitants), especially for petty crime like robbery. In its prison reform, Algeria has also made plans to introduce measures as an alternative to prison, such as community service. This would reduce prison overcrowding, but it still has not been fully developed.

Women and juveniles

The Programme which has supported the reform of the Algerian prison system has also focused on women and juveniles. Although the percentage of female inmates in Algeria is lower than that of men, women represent just 1% of the prison population, the stigma they suffer after being in prison marginalizes them and subjects them to discrimination. “Because of the Algerian social, religious and cultural idiosyncrasy, their difficulties in rejoining society are much greater. In many cases they are rejected by their families and left without any type of support on the outside”, explains Mercedes Herrera.

In order to offer people leaving prison more re-integration possibilities, the Programme has studied the conditions of these women and prepared a series of reports and proposals.

In the case of juveniles, Algeria had already placed an emphasis on this group, which can be convicted starting at 13 years of age, and is giving them training and job-placement assistance following detention in centres for juveniles. Through this Programme, the North African country has benefited from the perspective of European experts and developed proposals for improving the living conditions of this group.

“A prison, in addition to being a place where a person serves a sentence, also must be oriented towards social re-integration of the person serving the sentence”, concludes Herrera.