The Czech ombudsman has taken up the case of around 70 Chinese Christians who applied for asylum in the Czech Republic on the grounds that they fear persecution at home.

Control Yuan President Chang Po-ya led Control Yuan members on a visit to the Executive Yuan for an annual review of the executive branch of government on 26 December 2017. The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of the Interior and their subordinate agencies received the most corrective measures at 13 each, followed by the Ministry of Education and its subordinate agencies at 12 corrective measures.

The Office of the Ombudsman, represented by its Communications and Research Officer, Mr Jurgen Cassar took part in a study visit organised by the Defender of People of Spain aimed at analysing the situation of minor migrants in Spain.

The Ombudsman, Ms Connie Lau, today (January 4) announced the completion of a direct investigation into the support services provided by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) for persons with or suspected to have mental health problems and their families/carers and neighbours.

Residents of Nyeri County had the opportunity to interact with the Commission and get to understand its mandate in fostering administrative justice in the public sector. The exhibition event was under the umbrella of the 6th Annual Conference of Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices held in Nyeri town to mark six years since the establishment of the bodies.

Attorney-General Senator the Hon George Brandis QC and the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Hon Julie Bishop MP today announced that the Australian Government has formally ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT).

Maria Lúcia Amaral was elected, by the Parliament, as the Portuguese Ombudsman on October 20th 2017 and took office on November 2nd the same year.

The term of Ms Lucia Franchini as Ombudsman of Tuscany (Italy) ended and as a result, the position of one European Director on the IOI Board of Directors became vacant. According to the European regional by-laws one of the Directors at the European regional Board, Ms Ülle Madise, Chancellor of Justice of Estonia, took over the vacant seat at the IOI Board and elections were held to fill the vacant position on the European regional Board.