Number of complaints in the 1st quarter of 2016

A total of 2,110 complaints were received in the 1st quarter of 2016, which is 18 less than in the same period last year. The Defender was approached by 1,387 persons in matters falling within my competence under the law, which is 68 more than in the first quarter of the past year. Thus, the proportion of complaints falling within the Defender’s mandate increased to 66% (the figure for the last year was 64%). Most complaints were related to social security (385 complaints); many complaints (143) concerned the area of construction proceedings and spatial planning and also the prison system, police and army (112).

In 97 of the complaints received, the complainants claimed unequal treatment by public administration and private individuals. The number of complaints directed against discrimination in the sense of the Anti-Discrimination Act reached 50. In 26 cases, we also provided information and analyses related to discrimination to international parties and national bodies.

In the third quarter, we performed 5 systematic visits to facilities where persons restricted in their freedom are or may be present. In the area of monitoring detention of foreign nationals and performance of administrative expulsion, we monitored 1,205 decisions.

The following figure illustrates the numbers of complaints.

• 66% – the share of complaints in Q1 falling within the Defender’s competence, meaning we can initiate inquiry
• 2110 complaints were lodged in Q1 2016, of which:
• 385 concerned the area of social security
• 112 concerned the area of prisons, police and the army
• 143 concerned the area of construction and spatial planning