IOI | Board adopts Vienna Declaration to support colleagues in Argentina

At its annual meeting held in Vienna from 26 – 28 April 2017, the IOI Board of Directors adopted a declaration requesting the National Congress of Argentina to accelerate procedures to appoint the National Ombudsman (a position which has remained vacant for the past seven years) and the National Ombudsman for Children and Adolescents (a position which has remained vacant since its creation in 2005).

The matter was brought to the attention of the Board by the Directors of the Caribbean & Latin American Region of the IOI, who also requested the Board to adopt a declaration to show the IOI’s concern about the fact that two national institutions, whose role as control mechanism are essential for the adequate functioning of a democratic state, remain vacant for such a long period of time.

IOI President Peter Tyndall explained that during his last journey to Argentina he also took note of the situation regarding the two national institutions and welcomed the decision of the Board to adopt this declaration and to call upon the National Congress of Argentina to make sure that the appointment process for these two institutions be resolved immediately.

“The fact that both positions remain vacant for such long time gives great cause for concern in relation to the functioning and strengthening of democracy and the rights of children” stressed President Tyndall, which is why the IOI Board of Directors unanimously adopted the Vienna Declaration (see below).