The IOI and the Catalan Ombudsman organize an international workshop on “Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights - challenges, functions and mechanisms”, to be held in Barcelona from 2 – 3 March 2020. Registration is now open!

Cypriot attorney-general Costas Clerides has rejected a demand by the country’s auditor-general that a criminal investigation be carried out against the Ombudswoman. In his legal opinion the attorney-general made strong reference to the Venice Principles and the IOI letter of support.

María Lúcia Amaral, Provedora de Justiça de Portugal, institución similar al Defensor del Pueblo en el país vecino, se ha entrevistado este lunes con el Defensor del Pueblo (e.f.) Francisco Fernández Marugán.

Mardi 21 janvier, le Défenseur des droits, Jacques Toubon, s’est rendu à Vannes pour un déplacement mêlant échanges avec ses délégués présents dans la région, présentation de la nouvelle cheffe de pôle régionale et du programme Educadroit aux acteurs locaux.

The Ombudsman of Hong Kong, Ms Winnie Chiu, announced the completion of a direct investigation into “Mechanisms for Verifying Travel Records of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance/Social Security Allowance Applicants and Recipients”.

El Dr. Walter Gutiérrez hizo entrega del “Reporte sobre la Situación de Defensores y Defensoras de Derechos Humanos” al relator. El representante de Naciones Unidas supervisará las acciones de protección en las ciudades de Piura, Madre de Dios, Cuzco y Ucayali.

On 13 January 2020, Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina hosted a working visit from Werner Amon, Secretary General of the IOI and Chair of the Austrian Ombudsman Board. Amon and his Slovenian counterpart exchanged the experiences of their respective national institutions dedicated to human rights and called for even greater cooperation between ombudsmen in Europe. 

The Office of the Public Defender of Rights has launched a four-year plan focused on human rights protection. The plan will allow the Ombudsman to focus even more strongly on particularly vulnerable groups, such as children, people with disabilities and people whose freedom has been restricted.

Le Médiateur de la Wallonie, Marc Bertrand, accompagné de la collaboratrice en charge de ce secteur, s’est rendu récemment dans les locaux de la SOWAER (Société wallonne des Aéroports) pour une rencontre avec le Président du Comité de gestion, le Directeur général, Monsieur Thibaut de Villenfagne, ainsi que les personnes en charge du suivi des plaintes concernant les aéroports.

The National Ombudsman has published his Ombuds Agenda 2020, which covers the National Ombudsman, the Veterans Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children. Some of the main issues this year include poverty and debt among vulnerable young people in the Dutch Caribbean, veterans in detention and the involvement of (chronically) sick children and young people in their medical treatment. 

A public opinion survey carried out by the International Republican Institute (IRI) shows that the public feels a high level of trust for the Human Rights Defender.