A report from the National Assembly for Wales’ Finance Committee has recommended a new law should be introduced to strengthen the powers of the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.

In March 2016 IOI Secretary General Günther Kräuter paid a visit to the host of the 11th IOI World Conference, the Office of the Ombudsman of Thailand, and took the opportunity of this preparatory meeting to talk to several journalists in Thailand.

The IOI is pleased to inform its members that the training cooperation established with the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) will find its continuation in a follow-up NPM workshop with a special focus on the monitoring of psychiatric facilities. The workshop will be hosted by the Seimas Ombudsmen’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania in Vilnius from 21 to 23 June 2016 and registration is now open.

B.C. Ombudsperson Jay Chalke has released a guide aimed at improving the fairness of local government bylaw enforcement programs. “Bylaw Enforcement: Best Practices Guide for Local Governments” is built on 20 years’ experience and hundreds of investigations into individual complaints about bylaw enforcement practices in communities of all sizes across British Columbia.

Toronto – March 24th, 2016 - Toronto’s Interim Ombudsman says 2015 was a year of wide-spread recognition for the work the office is doing.

On 22 March 2016 a panel discussion was held in Geneva on a human rights based approach to the work of ombudsmen.

A delegation of the Ombudsman Office of Thailand visited the Control Yuan (CY) for exchanges of practical experience on March 23, 2016. The delegation was led by Chief Ombudsman Siracha Vongsarayankura and included academics and investigators from the office.

Ottawa, ON - March 23, 2016 - Commenting on yesterday’s Budget, Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent said: “This was the Government’s first opportunity to put its mandate on the books, and I believe that it is off to a promising start for Veterans and their families.”