iDEM interview with Barcelona’s Ombudsman Office – Democratic inclusion at a local level.

We are joined by David Bondia, Barcelona’s Ombudsman. Can you please introduce yourself and the institution you represent?

I am a professor of Public International Law and International Relations at the University of Barcelona. Since 2021, I have held the position of Ombudsman of Barcelona. The Ombudsman is an institution responsible for safeguarding the right to the city and the human rights of all individuals who reside or transit through the city of Barcelona.

Which communities seek the aid of the Barcelona Ombudsman Office most?

The communities seeking help from the Ombudsman are diverse. We encounter groups in severe situations of vulnerability (people experiencing homelessness, refugees, migrants, etc.), but also individuals and groups who want to assert their rights (to culture, good administration, sports, rest, etc.) in response to the actions of the municipal administration.

iDEM is developing a mini guide for public administrations with recommendations for increasing accessibility in democratic processes. During the creation of the guide we identified a lack of trust between populations in situations of vulnerability and public administrations. Have members of the communities represented by your office indicated they feel mistrust toward their representatives?

Yes, there’s definitely some distrust towards public administrations. Mainly in two ways: first, the language they use with citizens is too bureaucratic and technical, which creates a gap; and second, the participation in municipal decisions. The participation processes are non-binding and unclear. They aren’t encouraging the participation of those individuals and groups who, despite being part of the Barcelona community, have never been invited to participate.

The Barcelona Ombudsman Office is dedicated to the promotion of fundamental rights. These include the Right to Participation. How is your office supporting those excluded from decision-making processes in Barcelona?

Related to the previous response, we can say that the right to participation is part of our concept of a diverse city. A city framework built on a set of human rights, that have a special impact on individuals or groups, where differences are recognized as enriching elements of diversity.

We understand that citizen participation is the real influence of citizens in decision-making on public matters, especially those issues that have a direct impact on their lives. The right to participation can be exercised in many ways (from the right to vote to association, through collective or community actions, bodies, and processes, among others), which can contribute to determining the maturity level of democratic societies.

Could you please share with us details of a specific programme or action that you believe has had a positive impact on enhancing civic participation among all of Barcelona’s residents?

We’ve made recommendations to the municipal government in five areas:

• Keep the citizens informed about the projects being developed in the territory, especially those promoting projects within the framework of Participatory Budgets. In this regard, it’s necessary to review and evaluate the timeline of processes and information provided to the citizens, aiming to determine improvements for future processes.

• Address the affected citizen in writing and encourage the restoration of the relationship and normalization.

• Update the regulatory norms of the districts’ functioning and the internal regulations of each district to include information about neighborhood councils and their regulation.

• Prioritize and act swiftly to establish the Protection Committee and the Safeguards Committee for participatory processes.

• Consider the possibility of including in the Citizen Participation Regulation the potential impact that electoral periods may have on certain actions or participation bodies.

Recently, you have been elected as the president of AGOL, the Global Alliance of Local Ombudspersons. How do you think this position can help to promote the iDEM project and its objectives?

I am very pleased to have taken on the presidency of this organization, created in 2019. Its purpose is to strengthen the ties and cooperation between local Ombudspersons to generate global impacts in guaranteeing and promoting the rights of people in cities. In this way, we contribute to the consolidation of the Rule of Law, democracy, and social justice worldwide.

AGOL is made up of European Ombudspersons, Personeros/as from various South American cities, and Presidents of Human Rights Commissions, as well as individuals linked to Ombudsperson organizations, academics, NGO representatives, and human rights specialists.

From the presidency, we will be able to leverage international collaboration networks to give visibility to all the work being done on the iDEM project. With our participation, we aim to strengthen citizens’ right to participation and make democratic debate spaces more accessible, inclusive, and easy to understand for everyone.