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ICC Chair Mushwana and IOI President Walters signed MoU in Geneva
The 28th Annual Meeting of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Geneva was marked by the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the ICC and the IOI on 12 March 2015.
Since 2009 the IOI maintained a close relationship and on-going dialogue with the ICC, with a view to raise awareness among the NHRI community about the general role of Ombudsman institutions and the importance of their every-day work in the promotion and protection of human rights and the fight against violations of these rights.
During this on-going dialogue, the ICC and the IOI recognized that one of the main objectives they share is to strengthen the establishment of strong and effective institutions which assist in the promotion and protection of human rights.
Guided by the will to establish a mutually advantageous and cooperative relationship, ICC Chair Lourence Mushwana and IOI President John R. Walters signed a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the two organizations. The Memorandum of Understanding stresses the willingness of both organizations to strongly cooperate in the future, to foster the exchange of information and expertise and to facilitate participation in conferences and meetings, study visits and workshops.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Geneva on 12 March 2015 and the leaders of both organizations emphasised the high value of this cooperation agreement and expressed their deep hope that members from both organisations will mutually benefit of this joint cooperation. “This Memorandum of Understanding should not remain a paper dream. Ombudsman and Human Rights Commissions need to give life to the principles and cooperate also on the domestic level”, concluded IOI President John R. Walters.
