Rafael Ribó, Catalan Ombudsman from 2004 to 2022, received today in Vienna the Gold Medal of Merit awarded by the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), the body in which all ombudsmen of the world. In this way, they want to recognize his work for having been a "passionate and dedicated defender in all aspects related to the work of the Ombudsman, as well as for the protection of human rights in Europe and throughout the world."
He is the third European ombudsman to receive this award, and the first in Spain. And in his long history, the "unconditional support" that he has given to his "threatened colleagues" also stands out. Likewise, the former Ombudsman was elected in September to be one of the reviewers of this body.
The award honors his work as síndic de greuges and as European president of the IOI, where he served for two terms, and as director of the World Board. Ribó considers that the recognition also serves to underline that from Catalonia it is possible to have an international role, establish alliances and work jointly with other institutions beyond the borders.
In his speech at the IOI headquarters in Vienna, Ribó thanked all that he had learned from his colleagues and outlined the main challenges that ombudsmen will have to face in the coming years, understanding that their job is to watch over the human rights beyond the law. Likewise, she has highlighted the need to increase the inclusive perspective, a perspective that overcomes Eurocentrism and Anglophony.
We must think about people, more than citizenship, he indicated, and recalled that many of the people who live in our countries –migrants, refugees– do not have legal recognition. He has cited, among others, the humanitarian crises in the Mediterranean and in the Rio Grande.
He has also alluded to the importance of ombudsmen maintaining independence from political parties and governments. In a complex moment, he has made reference to the millions of people whose rights are currently threatened by war situations, such as in Ukraine, Yemen, Syria or Sudan. But not only because of wars, but also because of other threats, such as Covid or climate change.
In this analysis, he has also warned about the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the control of human beings. He has first put the notice on the large private companies that currently provide public services of general interest, pointing out the need to exercise control over them that is not being carried out.
