Parliament approves AOB Annual Report 2011

In its last plenary sitting before the summer break the National Council also dealt with the Annual Report 2011 of the Austrian Ombudsman Board (AOB).

“The 2011 statistics reflect the strong level of trust citizens have in the work of the AOB”, emphasizes AOB Chairwoman Terezija Stoisits. “In 2011 the AOB took care of more than 16,000 requests. The number of investigation procedures initiated increased by 10 percent. In 12.4 percent of 8,400 completed investigation procedures the AOB confirmed a case of maladministration”, summarizes Stoisits the AOB activities.

Just as in recent years, social affairs, an area handled by Ombudsman Peter Kostelka accounted for the lion's share of complaints and investigative proceedings. 28.3% of all initiated investigative proceedings related to this sector. Among other issues complaints focused on problems with the granting of nursing allowances et al. Ombudswoman Gertrude Brinek is competent for complaints on the administration of the judiciary, an area that accounts for 13.8% of all investigative proceedings. Complaints relating to legal guardianship have been a priority in 2011. Ombudswoman Terezija Stoisits recorded 1.306 complaints on internal security issues in the year under review. Like in previous years, this is due primarily to the large number of complaints relating to the law on aliens and the law on asylum.

Except for the States of Tyrol and Vorarlberg which have their own regional ombudsman, the AOB also monitors administration of the regional and municipal authorities of the federal Laender. In comparison with the previous year the number of investigative proceedings in this sector rose again. The AOB conducted more than 2,500 investigative proceeding regarding the regional and municipal government administration.

During the parliamentary debate AOB members also informed the members of the National Council about the implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) transforming the AOB into the “human rights house of the Republic of Austria” as of 1 July 2012. Chairwoman Stoisits is convinced that the AOB is well prepared for its new task which entails the monitoring of all facilities where people are deprived of their liberty in order to ensure that human rights standards are met.