The Office's main areas of competency are: monitoring the public administrations of the Community of Madrid, prosecute complaints by citizens, propose regulatory or procedural reforms, disseminate the rights of children and carry out studies on the exercise and development of their rights in the Community.

In the year 2000, 25,462 citizens filed complaints at the Office, giving rise to 1,071 cases for prosecution concerning the following: social integration and legal protection, 276; education and culture, 562; health, 190 and operation of the public administration, 43.

The considerable increase in reports in relation to the previous year is mainly seen in the area of education and culture, derived from the transfer of non-university competencies and services from the general administration of the State to the Community of Madrid. The majority of reports involved relationships in the education community, pre-school education, absenteeism and non-registration of children belonging to families experiencing social difficulties, the school admission processes or the conditions of educational centres.

Other areas with a high number of complaints in 2000 involved children's protection homes in the Community of Madrid, social integration of underprivileged children, babies up to 3 years living with their mothers in prison, the content of messages targetting children broadcast by the media or the consumption of alcoholic drinks by children and young people.

In 2000 the Office received 2,649 telephone calls requesting information on various topics. However, most requests involved Patria Potestas issues (provision of food, custody or visiting rights) by separated or divorced parents.

As in previous years, in 2000 the Office maintained regular contacts with heads of institutions and politicians of our Community, including the President of the Madrid Parliament, representatives of different Parliamentary groups, City Hall Departments, the Ombudsman, the Committees of various Autonomic Parliaments, the Prosecutor's Office of the High Court of Madrid, jurisdictional bodies, the Government Delegate, various City and Town Halls, as well as associations, foundations and NGOs.

The specific topics discussed at said meetings include: restricting and controlling the distribution of simulated weapons in toy shops, violence among children, children taken to prison with their mothers or the new Act regulating the criminal responsibilities of minors.

This Office has endeavoured to convey an abundance of messages to both children and adults to divulge the rights of children and teenagers through participating in spaces provided by the various media, visiting schools, institutes, hospitals, protection and re-education centres, and temporary settlements. In addition, this work was carried out in talks, meetings and discussion groups, as well as promoting and organising events focused on children (writing and drawing competitions, participation in children's festivals organised by Town Halls, NGOs or associations). In this area of action, we must emphasise the regular participation of this Office in the "Children of the World" section of a weekly radio programme (Mundo Solidario) which goes beyond the limits of the Community of Madrid to reach millions of listeners.

In 2000, the following material was published:

These publications contributed to create a dense network of people committed to the defence of childhood.

In 2000 the following studies and research were made.

Last edited by Barneombudet March 22, 2004
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