Local ombudsmen in Spain.- Declaration of Malaga

FIRST NATIONAL MEETING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OMBUDSMEN
MALAGA DECLARATION

We, the participants of the First National Meeting of Local Government Ombudsmen in Malaga, have exchanged experiences and defined a series of common principles that we have undertaken to develop:

1. The special function of the local government Ombudsman is to PROVIDE GUIDANCE, ACT AS INTERMEDIARY AND DRAW UP RECOMMENDATIONS with the aim of improving the quality of public services, developed in each case within the framework of relations between the public and government bodies and within the scope of the latter’s authority.

2. The local government Ombudsman is a useful institution, set up with the aim of guaranteeing the defence and protection of the rights of individuals in their relations with Local Governments within the framework of civic responsibility, as set out in the following documents and declarations, among others:

+Resolution 80 (1999) and Recommendations 61 (1999), adopted by the Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

+European Charter to Safeguard Human Rights in cities. In Saint-Denis, May 18 2000.

+Declaration of Parliamentary Commissioners "concerning the declaration of Sector and Local Ombudsmen", in Madrid, November 18 1999.

3. In order to safeguard the prestige and efficiency of local government Ombudsman offices these must be set up in accordance with the following essential conditions:
A. Democratic mandate: elected by a qualified majority of the municipal council, meeting in plenary session.
B. Political independence.
C. Sufficient resources.
D. Institutional commitment and respect for the Ombudsman’s own area of authority in the exercise of his/her duties.

4. We consider it to be of great interest to further and enhance our mutual relations and during the course of this Meeting we have created a "National local government ombudsmen forum", without independent legal status. Through this forum we will promote the introduction of the institution in local government administrations and as a liaison centre which, through a range of different telematic systems, will allow us to keep in touch, share information and prepare future meetings.

Malaga, February eight, two thousand eight

Name and SurnamesPositionEntity/StateCarles Dalmau i AusàsLocal Government OmbudsmanSant Boi Town Hall (Barcelona)Gabriel de Frutos HernándezCitizen OmbudsmanLa Línea Town Hall (Cadiz)Josep Escartín LauritoLocal Government OmbudsmanSabadell Town Hall (Barcelona)Luis Espada RecareyCitizen OmbudsmanVigo Town Hall (Pontevedra)María Ángeles Fernández SerranoCitizen Participation Provincial Council CadizFrancisco García-Calabrés CoboCitizen OmbudsmanCordoba Provincial CouncilAgustín García LázaroCitizen OmbudsmanJerez Town Hall (Cadiz)José García VelázquezCitizen OmbudsmanSegovia Town Hall Francisco Gutiérrez RodríguezCitizen OmbudsmanMalaga Provincial Council Mario HookOmbudsmanGibraltarFrancisco Labiós SerratsCitizen OmbudsmanBenetússer Town Hall (Valencia) Miguel Lladó OliverCitizen OmbudsmanPalma Town Hall (Mallorca)María Antonia MorenoCitizen OmbudsmanPaterna Town Hall (Valencia)Javier Otaola BajenetaOmbudsman [Citizen Ombudsman]Vitoria Town Hall (Alava)Fernando Oteros SalasCitizen OmbudsmanSanta Coloma de Gramenet Town Hall (Barcelona)María Elena Peraza QuinteroCitizen OmbudsmanCandelaria (Tenerife)Manuel Rodríguez HernándezCitizen OmbudsmanMarbella Town Hall (Málaga) Francisco Romo Dueñas Presidente[CESR]Seville Town Hall Melchor Saiz-Pardo RubioCitizen OmbudsmanGranada Town Hall M. Glòria Valeri FerretCitizen OmbudsmanVilafranca del Penedès Town Hall (Barcelona)