On the occasion of the 45^th anniversary of the Lazio Region Civic Defender, a major international event will be held in Rome, organized by Marino Fardelli, President of the Italian Civic Defenders, Civic Defender of the Lazio Region, and member of the European Board of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI). Adding further prestige to the initiative will be the general audience with Pope Francis on the morning of April 9, during which participants will be welcomed by the Holy Father. 

The Ombudsman’s inquiry into the Pylos shipwreck reveals a series of serious and reprehensible omissions in the search and rescue duties on the part of senior officers of the Hellenic Coast Guard.

On Wednesday, 29th of January 2025, the second Ombuds Academy took place. This event was organized and hosted by the Dutch National ombudsman. The Ombuds Academy is an IOI initiative that focuses on the employees of our institutes, rather than on the ombudsmen.

Ombudsman Grace Tikambenji Malera delivered a determination in the matter of how government through the Ministry of Justice’s Office of the Solicitor General flouted procedures in shortlisting and interviewing two candidates for the post of Director General for the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Malawi.

In the December issue of the Transparency Newsletter, the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) shares news on the most recent achievements, events and developments of the office.

The NSW Ombudsman has tabled the Casebook January 2025: Investigations and complaint-handling case studies, highlighting some of the myriad of complaints it has dealt with across a range of NSW government agencies, local councils and community services providers.

On 8 January 2025, the Control Yuan National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) held a press conference to release its special report, “Your Voice Plants the Seeds of Change - Systematic Inquiry Report on Sexual Abuse in Schools and Placement Institutions.” The investigation results were jointly announced by supervising committee members Chu-Fang Chang, Chiu-Chin Tien, and Li-Chiung Su.

The Commonwealth Ombudsman has expanded its functions with the establishment of the National Student Ombudsman (NSO) which commenced operations on 1 February 2025. The NSO is a free, independent, and impartial service for students to resolve complaints about their higher education provider.