IOI President Chris Field PSM was deeply honoured this week to provide an opening speech to an international conference on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the Ombudsman of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Conference was attended by a number of Ambassadors, senior dignitaries from the Kingdom of Bahrain and Ombudsman and human rights commissioners.

On his second day in the Kingdom of Bahrain, IOI President Chris Field PSM undertook an official visit to the Bahrain Open Prison Complex. The Open Prison Complex comprises a large number of very modern townhouses, with a range of facilities, which prepare detainees for re-entry into the community with a range of skills. A very high level of freedom and rights is accorded to the detainees.

From 27 – 29 September 2023, the “UN World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna 1993 – Strengthening Imperatives 30 Years After”, organised by the University of Vienna and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights, took place in Vienna. The Austrian Ombudsman Board (AOB), the Public Protector of the Republic of South Africa and the Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia were among the many speakers who came together to reiterate the three imperatives of the Vienna Conference 1993: universality, guarantees and democratisation.

Les hacemos llegar el 92. Reporte Internacional de “Derechos Humanos en Perspectiva Internacional” elaborado por el Programa de Observación y Asistencia para el Fortalecimiento de las Defensorías del Pueblo, que forma parte de la Unidad de Política Institucional de la Defensoría del Pueblo de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (Argentina).

A complainant alleged that the Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department failed to issue him the number plates of his vehicle despite payment of charges due to which he faced inconvenience and harassment by road side police officers. On intervention of the Ombudsman Sindh, the agency issued his number plate and also the traffic police officer submitted an apology through a written statement for his misconduct.

From 9-10 November 2023, the European Ombudsman Network (ENO) will hold a conference on migration and artificial intelligence. Persons interested in participating in the conference are kindly asked to register until 26 October 2023. 

Ombudsman Jason Pedlar is speaking out about the need for revisions to the Ombudsman Act in the Yukon, as part of activities to mark international Ombuds Day on 12 October 2023. Ombuds Day is held on the second Thursday of October each year to highlight and promote the work of Ombuds worldwide.

La Red de Comunicadores de la FIO que es conocida como ComFIO, renovó sus autoridades para el bienio 2023-2025 en la reciente Asamblea y Congreso de la FIO que se realizó -con modalidad mixta, es decir tanto on line como presencial- en la ciudad de Barranquilla, Colombia.