How to become a member
Membership categories
Institutional Members - Institutional Members consist of ombudsman offices (which may have a variety of titles). Institutional Members are entitled to vote at meetings of the I.O.I. membership.
Associate Members - This class of members includes those persons or agencies interested or involved in ombudsman-like activities, but who do not qualify as Institutional Members.
Honorary Life Members - Honorary Life Members are appointed by the International Ombudsman Institute Board of Directors. They are selected persons who have made outstanding contributions to the ombudsman ethos or function.
Individual Members - This class of members includes persons who do not qualify as Institutional Members, staff of an ombudsman office who are interested in ombudsman activities, scholars and libraries.
Library Members - In addition, there are a number of libraries around the world which are subscribers to the I.O.I. publications and are categorized as Library Members.
Application Procedure
Applications for membership or for a change in class of membership shall be lodged with the General Secretariat. Based on information provided by the applicant institution the I.O.I. assesses the institution’s characteristics regarding its accountability, institutional independence as well as its mandate. Prior to the Secretary General making a decision on an application, the Secretary General consults the Regional Vice-President of the region from which the application for membership originates to ascertain the Regional Vice-President's view of the application. When the Secretary General makes a decision on an application under this paragraph, he/she shall advise the Board accordingly. Once the application procedure is positively processed and the annual membership if (currently EUR 520 for an institutional membership) is paid the new I.O.I. member institutions can profit from all membership benefits.
Any institution interested in becoming a member may send a message directly to ioi@volksanw.gv.at.