A key highlight of the Second International Ombud Expo holding in Gaborone, Botswana from 29 July – 2 August 2024 is a special celebration of the pioneers of various institutions. If you have not already done so, Expo organisers seek your support and assistance in the compilation of a Directory of all first incumbents and appointments as heads of office and ask for contributions until 28 June 2024.

The Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman (NIPSO) is delighted to announce the launch of a collaborative research project examining the role of ombudspersons in the protection of refugees and asylum seekers (the OPRAS project). In order to carry out the OPRAS project the University of Glasgow has received funding from the British Academy and is being carried out in collaboration with Professor Chris Gill.

Honourable Provincial Ombudsman Sindh, Mr. Muhammad Sohail Rajput, chaired a workshop held on 29 May 2024 at Hamdard University, Karachi. Honorable Ombudsman Sindh addressed the large number of students and highlighted the key features of the Brand Ambassador Program, initiated through a regional subsidy of the IOI, with aims and objectives to disseminate the information about the role of the Ombudsman, promote civic responsibilities and to raise community outreach through students being inspiring future leaders.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, based in Washington, accepted the request for provisional measures from the Federal Public Defenders' Office to guarantee the rights of the Tapeba indigenous people of Caucaia, a municipality in the metropolitan region of Fortaleza, in the state of Ceará. Resolution 28/2024, issued on 9 May 2024, requires the Brazilian State to adopt necessary measures to protect the life and personal integrity of members of this people.

On 29 and 30 May 2024, the national and regional ombudsinstitutions of Benelux had their annual meeting in Luxembourg. The latest developments in the Benelux were discussed but the main topic that they focused on was the right to err.

El Síndic de Greuges de Catalunya y la Sindicatura de Greuges de Barcelona recuerdan al Ayuntamiento que la tramitación de los empadronamientos sin domicilio fijo debe resolverse en tres meses y que el silencio es positivo. En los casos en los que la persona no tiene un domicilio fijo, el Ayuntamiento exige el informe de conocimiento de residencia, lo que podría alargar el proceso de empadronamiento seis meses o más.

The IOI Board of Directors decided at their Board meeting held in The Hague in May 2024 to continue the regional subsidy programme for the membership year 2024/2025. Members wishing to apply for regional subsidies can submit project proposals until 19 August 2024.

Despite their importance, whistleblowers are often treated by society in an ambivalent manner. There are a number of reasons for protecting whistleblowers; first and foremost to ensure the proper functioning of the public systems acting for the benefit of the public. The next publication in the series of IOI Best Practice Papers was developed by the Office of the State Comptroller and Ombudsman of Israel and is based on the immense experience acquired by the Office.