IOI | Reminder - 2-day Training Seminar: “AI and decision-making processes, compliance with the rights of individuals”

The International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) and the Office of the Chancellor of Justice of Estonia in collaboration with the e-Governance Academy (eGA) invites you to participate in a 2-day training seminar on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Tallinn, Estonia on October 15–16, 2024. Kindly also consult this reminder for information on the e-learning platform, which is part of this project and which will be open for participants and others interested in the materials. The deadline for applications is Friday, 13 September 2024.

UK | Reminder - Invitation to participate in a survey for the OPRAS project

The Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman and Professor Chris Gill (University of Glasgow) are conducting a joint research project examining the role of ombudspersons in the protection of refugees and asylum seekers (the OPRAS project). The corresponding survey, whose aim is to understand the work of ombudspersons in this area and to identify good practice, is still open until 27 September 2024. You can now also download the survey in Word format to facilitate its completion where more than one individual is completing it.

AORC | Re-watch the webinar "Celebrating Women's Month - Ensuring Gender Equity: The Role of the Ombudsman"

On 27 August 2024, the African Ombudsman Research Centre (AORC), in collaboration with the IOI, held a webinar to discuss and understand the crucial role Ombudsman institutions play in addressing gender bias and discrimination within organizations.
 

MÉXICO | En CDHCM, colectivos de víctimas de violaciones a derechos humanos y organizaciones civiles analizan Ley de Amnistía y beneficios por colaboración

La figura de amnistía no puede representar escenarios de impunidad, especialmente en casos de violaciones graves a derechos humanos, por lo cual existe la preocupación de que se desproteja a las víctimas en su derecho a la reparación del daño.

Así lo destacó la Ombudsperson capitalina, Nashieli Ramírez Hernández, al inaugurar el Foro: “Ley de Amnistía y beneficios por colaboración en los casos de violaciones a los derechos humanos en México. Diálogo sobre su aplicabilidad, análisis de los avances, retrocesos y propuestas de medidas para su eficacia”.

CANADA | Ombudsman to investigate child welfare practice of placing children and youth in hotels, motels, offices and trailers

On September 5, 2024, Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé announced an investigation into the practice of child welfare agencies placing young children and teens in hotels, motels, offices and trailers. The Ombudsman launched the investigation on his own initiative in light of several reports about children being inappropriately housed in these settings. Ombudsman staff have already visited some of these children and youth to see their living conditions and hear their concerns directly.

HONG KONG, CHINA | Office of The Ombudsman announces results of direct investigation into Transport Department’s arrangements for driving tests

On 5 September 2024, the Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, announced the completion of a direct investigation operation into the arrangements for driving tests by the Transport Department (TD), and made 12 major recommendations to the Department.

ARGENTINA | La Defensoría advierte sobre el posible agravamiento de los cortes de luz previstos para el próximo verano

La Defensora del Pueblo de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, María Rosa Muiños, solicitó a la Secretaría de Energía de la Nación que brinde información sobre los planes de contingencia y protocolos que tiene previsto implementar el próximo verano, frente a los cortes del servicio de suministro eléctrico que podrían agravarse con relación a períodos anteriores.

IRELAND | OCO report highlights scramble to find school places for children with Special Educational Needs

There is still a scramble every September to find appropriate school places for children with Special Educational Needs, despite progress made by Government in recent years to prioritise the issue. That’s according to Plan for Places, Two Years On from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office, which examines whether progress has been made on recommendations made in the institution's previous Plan for Places report in 2022.

TIMOR-LESTE | Deputy Ombudsman stresses importance of digital rights at recent training session

The second stage of the training program on “Communication in the Age of Social Media and Tech Platforms,” organized by the Association of Information and Progressive Technology of Timor-Leste (ITP-TL), concluded successfully from 27-29 August 2024. The training took place at the Oriente Foundation in Dili and featured the participation of two officials from the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ).

ESPAÑA | La Diputada del Común, Lola Padrón, pide que se adopten las medidas necesarias para la aplicación del 5% en Educación

La Diputada del Común, Lola Padrón, ha solicitado a la Consejería de Presidencia, Administraciones Publicas, Justicia y Seguridad que se adopten las medidas necesarias para que, con la diligencia debida y en estricto cumplimiento de la Ley Canaria de Educación no Universitaria, se proceda a destinar al presupuesto educativo el 5% del producto interior bruto canario, conforme al mínimo que regula la citada Ley. Padrón asegura que es preciso que se cumpla la Ley 6/2014, de 25 de julio, “en aras de alcanzar el logro de los principios rectores del sistema educativo canario”.

FRANCE | Droit à l'éducation pour tous : rentrée 2024, des enfants toujours privés de leur droit

Alors que 12 millions d’élèves du primaire et du secondaire font leur rentrée scolaire cette semaine, de trop nombreux enfants resteront chez eux faute de pouvoir être scolarisés, ou rencontreront de réelles difficultés dans leur apprentissage faute d’aménagements adéquats. Lycéens sans affectation, manque d’accessibilité et d’inclusivité pour les élèves en situation de handicap : ce sont des dizaines de milliers d’enfants qui, chaque année, voient leur droit à l’éducation entravé. Le Défenseur des droits est particulièrement vigilant à ces situations et fait de l’accès à l’éducation de tous les enfants une de ses priorités.

CONTROL YUAN, TAIWAN | CY’s Committee on Social Welfare and Environment Hygiene Affairs Conducts Circuit Supervision at Taiwan Centers for Disease Control

The Committee on Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Affairs of the Control Yuan conducted a site visit at the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control on July 19, 2024. The inspection, centered on post-pandemic disease prevention, policy formulation, and the establishment of an infectious disease prevention network, aimed to protect the public’s health rights and interests.

PERÚ | Defensoría del Pueblo realiza supervisión nacional de hospitales nivel III para fortalecer el sistema de salud

La Defensoría del Pueblo ha desplegado un equipo a nivel nacional para supervisar 36 hospitales de categoría de nivel III, con el objetivo de fortalecer el sistema de salud y asegurar que las poblaciones más vulnerables reciban una atención de calidad. Esta supervisión busca evaluar diversos aspectos críticos de la gestión hospitalaria, tales como el presupuesto, la gestión del riesgo, la oferta de servicios, el abastecimiento de medicamentos, el manejo administrativo, la atención en laboratorios, entre otros.

CANADA | Toronto Ombudsman finds major gaps with police’s registry for vulnerable persons

On 5 September 2024, Toronto's Ombudsman released his report, An Investigation into the Toronto Police Service’s Communications About its Vulnerable Persons Registry. The TPS launched the registry in December of 2019 to allow the public to file personalized de-escalation strategies to help police officers support individuals with emotional, psychological, medical, or other physical conditions. Four years later, the Ombudsman’s investigation found that only 305 people currently have their information entered into the registry.