Annual report on human rights shows progress in 2016

"Many positive things have happened in numerous fields concerning human rights, even shifts towards implementing long-standing recommendations by the ombudsman," said Nussdorfer.

According to her, legislation is being amended, including in judiciary, while changes are expected in healthcare.

She added that her office was pleasantly surprised to have received a mid-year report on implementing the ombudsman's recommendations from the Justice Ministry.

This convinced the ombudsman that the government in fact intended to systematically keep tabs on and speed up the implementation of the recommendations. Of last year's 83 recommendations, 20 have been implemented in full and 30 partially.

In its latest report, the ombudsman issued 71 recommendations with the most vulnerable groups remaining in focus of Nussdorfer's office. "Poverty with its many aspects...