In the 15th edition of the Radio Ombudsman podcast, IOI President Peter Tyndall talks to Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Rob Behrens about the value of the international ombudsman community.

The impact of COVID-19 has drastically affected the way National Preventative Mechanisms monitor places of detention under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture. In a webinar, which will take place on 27 May 2020, the Ombudsman of New Zealand invites participants to discuss the challenges of monitoring places of detention during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The Ombudsman, Ms Winnie Chiu, declared a direct investigation today (21 May) to examine whether the Government has properly handled problems related to the misconnection of private building sewers to stormwater drains.

Since BC’s new whistleblowing protection law came into effect in December 2019, current and former provincial government employees have been coming to the Ombudsperson with enquiries, seeking advice, or making disclosures, according to the office’s first public interest disclosure annual report.

On 18 May 2020 the IOI Board of Directors held its annual meeting to identify and discuss projects and priorities for the upcoming membership year. Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, the Board held its annual meeting by electronic means for the first time and despite the challenge of a wide range of different time zones, 15 out of currently 20 Directors joined the videoconference hosted by the Office of IOI President and Ireland Ombudsman Peter Tyndall.

Family members and associates of principals in Victorian government schools continue to be hired without principals properly declaring or managing their conflicts of interest, the Victorian Ombudsman has warned. Tabling her investigations into allegations of nepotism in government schools, Ombudsman Glass said she hoped her report would draw attention to the problem and its consequences.

The National Ombudsman is calling on Government Commissioner Marnix van Rij and State Secretary for the Interior and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops to take immediate action to tackle the water problem on Sint Eustatius.

On 17 April 2020, Commissioner for Fundamental Rights Dr. Ákos Kozma paid a visit to the Emergency Centre of the Coronavirus Operational Group at the Ministry of Interior, where the Ombudsman was received by Head of the Emergency Centre Colonel Tibor Lakatos.