The Ombudsman of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Advocate Tlotliso Polaki, regrets to announce to the international Ombudsman community, the passing of Honourable Mohale Henry Nt'saba on the 19^th November 2024, a few months before his 100^th birthday. Honourable Nt’saba was the pioneer Ombudsman of the Kingdom of Lesotho, who established the office from inception.

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman has published a report spotlighting concerns about the fairness and consistency of grants awarded through the Scottish Welfare Fund. The report highlights issues with the distribution of the Fund, which provides grants to those in crisis. 

La institución Defensor del Pueblo ha solicitado a las consejerías de Sanidad todas las comunidades autónomas información para conocer cómo se coordina la actividad sanitaria con los centros de atención a la drogodependencia y reclamar que ésta, de no existir, se active.

The Yukon Ombudsman’s office has completed a formal investigation regarding the practice of site saving at Yukon Parks campgrounds. The investigative report concluded that the Department of Environment’s lack of enforcement due to insufficient tracking of site saving is unfair and made six recommendations.

Kindly click here to read an informational article submitted by the Ethiopian Institution of the Ombudsman (EIO) about its mandate, work and current challenges.

From 18 to 20 November 2024, the Austrian Ombudsman Board (AOB) received a delegation from the Uzbek Ombudsman Institution (Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights) for a study visit in Vienna. Ombudsperson and IOI Secretary General, Ms Gaby Schwarz, and Uzbek Ombudsperson, Ms Feruza Eshmatova, also discussed ways to deepen cooperation within the International Ombudsman Institute.

In an effort to raise awareness about children’s rights in the context of sports, the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children collaborated with the Mauritius Olympic Committee to participate in a workshop titled “Safeguarding Children’s Rights in the Sports Context,” organised on 16 November 2024. The event brought together 35 participants, including athletes and coaches, to engage in meaningful discussions and training on the rights of children in sports and the ethical responsibilities of those working with young athletes.

In October 2024, the Ararteko-Ombudsman of the Basque Country presented a research “Study on Sexist Attitudes among the Youth and Adolescent Population of the Basque Country”. The research is intended to allow a better understanding of the phenomenon of sexist attitudes among the youth and adolescence and extract a series of conclusions, to use them as a basis for recommendations to support decision-makers and improve public policies on gender equality.