On the occasion of his official visit to the Control Yuan to receive the Control Yuan First Grade Medal, IOI President Chris Field PSM was delighted to undertake a very warm and positive formal bilateral exchange with President Chen Chu, the Vice President and Members of the Control Yuan.

While in Taipei, IOI President Chris Field PSM undertook a deeply moving visit to a place of great significance, the National Human Rights Museum, memorializing the period of Taiwan’s history known as the ‘White Terror’.

As part of the IOI President’s visit to the Control Yuan to receive its highest honour, the First Grade Medal, he also participated in a number of cultural visits, including: the Beitou Hot Springs District; the Beitou public library; the utterly beautiful Sun Moon Lake; the Kaohsiung Museum of History; Kaohsiung Formosa Boulevard Station, famous for its ‘Dome of Light’; the wonderful architectural achievement that is ‘Weiwuying’ National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts as well as the Pier-2 Art Centre.

IOI President Chris Field PSM was exceptionally humbled and privileged to be awarded the highest honour of the Control Yuan, the First Grade Medal, in a formal ceremony in Taipei. The Medal was granted in honour of “His extraordinary contribution to the promotion of international ombudsman and human rights work”. The Medal was placed upon President Field by Control Yuan President Chen Chu.

As Asian Regional President of the IOI, the Chief Ombudsman of Thailand, Mr. Somsak Suwansujarit, hosted the Regional Meeting 2023 on 10 July 2023, in Bangkok, Thailand. In conjuction to the Regional Meeting a seminar was held under the theme "Asian Ombudsman as a Mechanism for Promoting Fair Administration, Good Governance and the Rule of Law", which was followed by a press conference. 

Mr. SUGAWARA Nozomu was appointed Director General of the Administrative Evaluation Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan. After duties of a deputy Director-General of the Digital Agency, he took up the role of Director-General of AEB, Ombudsman of Japan, on 7 July 2023.

In its special report, the Office of the Greek Ombudsman stated, that forced returns of third country nationals to their countries of origin are further reduced in 2022, however, the number of detainees in Pre-removal Centres and Police stations is disproportionately high. At the same time, complaints on illegal pushbacks are rising, reinforcing the EU Commission's proposal to member-states to establish independent border monitoring mechanisms.

The Ombudsman Hong Kong published its 2022/23 Annual report in July 2023. According to the institution, the Office has maintained uninterrupted public access to the services. They met all targets of performance as pledged, with 5,357 complaints received and 5,323 complains concluded in 2022.