IOI | IOI Board Meeting held in Mérida, Mexico

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Europe | Unboxing artificial intelligence: 10 steps to protect human rights

The Council of the Europe Commissioner for Human Rights published a recommendation providing a number of steps which national authorities can take to maximise the potential of artificial intelligence systems and prevent or mitigate the negative impact they may have on people’s lives and rights.

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Canada | Ombudsman Ontario - Registration now open for Sharpening Your Teeth 2019

Join us in Toronto this coming October for the Ontario Ombudsman's internationally recognized training course for ombudsmen and administrative investigators, "Sharpening Your Teeth: Advanced Investigative Training for Administrative Watchdogs"!

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canada | Celebrating One Decade – Looking to the Next

Ombudsman Toronto's 2018 Annual Report, now available, celebrates a decade of listening, investigating and improving City services. The Annual Report highlights among others the results of some of the 2125 cases handled in 2018.

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AZERBAIJAN | The Azerbaijani Ombudsman stresses the importance of the media’s role in promoting gender equality

The Azerbaijani Ombudsman participated in the conference jointly organized with the Council of Europe, the Ombudsman Office, the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs and the Press Council on “Gender Equality and Media” devoted to the 70^th anniversary of the CoE and the centenary of women’s suffrage in Azerbaijan.

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New Zealand | Another new role for the Ombudsman in New Zealand

The Government in New Zealand has announced a proposal aimed at strengthening the independent oversight of the Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children systems and children’s issues. The package includes a proposal to give the Ombudsman an enhanced role in overseeing complaints and investigations relating to children and young people in state custody.

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Cayman Islands | Ombudsman publishes summaries of selected cases and 2018 Year in Review in Cayman Islands

The Office of the Ombudsman has added a new section to their website.  Summaries of selected cases can be found under the “Outcomes” tab at Ombudsman.ky.  These summaries provide insight into specific cases dealt with by the Ombudsman and include details about the resolution of those cases.

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Taiwan | El Yuan de Control logra aumentar el número de empleados con discapacidad a través de una investigación realizada

El Yuan de Control inició una investigación sobre la situación laboral de las personas con discapacidad con el fin de proteger sus derechos humanos fundamentales y defender sus oportunidades laborales. En la investigación se descubrió que las personas con discapacidad se enfrentan a situaciones difíciles como una baja tasa de participación en el mercado laboral, una alta tasa de desempleo, un salario bajo, incluido el trabajo atípico y dificultades para llegar a fin de mes.

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Australia | Victorian Ombudsman’s latest OPCAT investigation

In 2017, the Australian Government announced its intention to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) treaty. Since then, the Victorian Ombudsman has been actively investigating the practical changes needed to implement OPCAT in Victoria.

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Bermuda | 10th Biennial Caribbean Ombudsman Association Conference and Training

The 10th Biennial Caribbean Ombudsman Association Conference and Training will be held in Bermuda from 28th – 31st May.  The theme for the conference is “Strengthening the Role and Performance of the Ombudsman and Human Rights Institutions in the Caribbean and Latin America”. The training will be facilitated by Dr. Victor Ayeni and the theme will be “Advancing the Ombudsman’s Impact: Roles, Services and Performance”.

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Families of children with Special Educational Needs in Hackney who are unhappy with the time the council took to complete their Education Health and Care Plans, could have their complaints reconsidered by the council after the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman identified significant faults in the council’s handling of two separate cases.

London Borough of Hackney has been criticised by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman for the lengthy delays in providing support for two children with Special Educational Needs (SEN).

Councils should normally take no longer than 20 weeks to complete an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan for children with SEN, but in the first case, a boy with autism only received his plan after 69 weeks. And in the second, there was a 48-week delay in providing a plan for a young boy with Down’s syndrome.

In both cases the boys’ families have had to make significant efforts to ensure the council provides the services they are entitled to.

The Ombudsman has criticised the council for a number of faults, including the way it considered whether the boys should be assessed when notified they may have SEN. The Ombudsman also criticised the council’s failure to adhere to statutory timescales for completing EHC Plans, and restricting access to services by using waiting lists for funding. It has recommended the council consider other families’ complaints where there have been delays in the process.

Michael King, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said:

Residents in new-build properties in Stockport town centre should be eligible for parking permits after an Ombudsman investigation found the council was unfairly declining them.

The Ombudsman investigated the council’s permit restrictions after a man complained he had bought a flat on a road identified on the council’s own website as qualifying.

When the man applied for his permit, it was refused. He has had to pay £50 a month to park near his flat since he moved in.

The Ombudsman’s investigation found the council had decided to change its town centre Controlled Parking Zone without making the necessary amendments to its Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).

Michael King, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said:

Der erste Bericht des Burgerbeauftragten wurde im vergangenen Jahr mit grosem Interesse gelesen – das lasst sich zumindest aus den zahlreichen Ruckmeldungen schliesen.

Jetzt liegt der zweite Bericht vor, fur das Jahr 2018. Wie zu erwarten war, stieg mit dem Bekanntheitsgrad des Burgerbeauftragten auch die Zahl der Eingaben. Im Vergleich zum Vorjahr war ein Zuwachs von mehr als 50 % zu verzeichnen.