Back-
IOI President Walters speaks at Control Yuan
International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) President John R. Walters visited the Control Yuan on the morning of May 18, 2016, delivering a speech on the development of African ombudsman institutions and the challenges that they face.
In his speech, Mr. Walters, who also serves as the Ombudsman of Namibia, noted there is no common model or approach regarding ombudsmanship in Africa, and instead variations among the different nations of the continent. Due to colonial legacy, many African countries still suffer from political turmoil or authoritarian rule, which bring severe challenges to ombudsman work. Other problems such as financial difficulties or institutional competition between ombudsman offices and human rights or anti-corruption agencies worsen the situation.
Regional and international cooperation are of great importance in overcoming the numerous challenges faced by the continent’s ombudsman institutions, according to Mr. Walters, who pointed out that promoting such cooperation reflects the underlying values of the IOI and the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA). At the same time, in order to make their work more effective, ombudsman institutions must strive to strengthen their credibility, earning the trust of the public and the respect of government, he added.
Mr. Walters expressed his appreciation to the CY for its invitation to him and his wife and for providing them with the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the powers and responsibilities of Taiwan’s watchdog institution. Noting that the CY’s experience is worth sharing, Mr. Walters expressed the hope for more bilateral cooperation with its African counterparts on government oversight, human rights protection and anti-corruption work.
Mr. Walters is the sixth president of the IOI to visit Taiwan. The CY joined the IOI in 1994 and has long been in close and friendly working relations with its leaders and members.
Source: Control Yuan of the Republic of China
