The Parliamentary Ombudsman of Malta, Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon, hosted the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Djoeke Adimi-Koekkoek on a courtesy visit to the Office of the Ombudsman.

The very cordial meeting marks another step in the constant efforts by the current Ombudsman to strengthen relations of the Office with Ambassadors and High Commissioners of Foreign Missions accredited to Malta on matters of common interest.

The Ombudsman highlighted the strong relationship between the Malta Parliamentary Ombudsman and the National Ombudsman of the Netherlands, Mr. Reiner Van Zurphen, who are both European and Global Directors of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI).

Furthermore, the Ombudsman updated Ambassador Adimi-Koekkoek on the upcoming 13th World Conference of the International Ombudsman Institute which will be held in The Hague, the Netherlands, in May 2024.  Subjects matter for discussion during the proceedings of the Conference will include pressing social issues such as climate change, the improvement of living conditions, and the challenges facing vulnerable and marginalised groups.

Judge Zammit McKeon and H.E. Adimi-Koekkoek examined also contacts made by the Office to reach out to representatives of organisations of migrant and ethnic minority groups present in Malta, and how such contacts and their public representation may be improved and made more effective.

The Ombudsman also emphasised his commitment to see the present mandate of the Office of the Ombudsman being extended at law to become also the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) of Malta.