In the light of the violence at the Pride Parade in Maribor Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina condemned expressions of intolerance and violence and emphasised that prejudice, discrimination, and exclusion due to sexual orientation, sexual identity, and other personal circumstances are unfortunately still present in society, despite being unacceptable.

El 18 de septimebre de 2023, el Defensor de la Infancia y Adolescencia de Andalucía, Jesús Maeztu, advertió sobre la necesidad de mejorar la detección de diferentes situaciones de riesgo para la infancia.

The Ombudsman of Thailand acknowledged an appeal about Chonburi Provincial Social Development and Human Society Office’s delayed payment of funeral expenses for the elderly according to the traditional life style. The fact states that the number of passing elderlies is higher than the budget allocated to the Department of Older Persons.

The Office of the Yukon Ombudsman has issued the first of two reports into a complaint of unfairness against the Yukon Department of Education from a parent of a student at Hidden Valley Elementary School. The Ombudsman investigation found that the government’s failure to communicate with parents at the school was unfair, depriving parents of the opportunity to take timely action to help their children.

The Accessibility Strategy and its action plan is a part of Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier’s clear vision in making sure the Ombudsman’s office is inclusive to all, in all facets of his work.

IOI President Chris Field PSM was honoured to be asked to join, and address, the formal Closing Ceremony of the inaugural International Conference of Ombudsman in Rome, joining Deputy Head of Cabinet with functions of the Lazio Region, Civita Di Russo; President of the Lazio Regional Council, Antonio Aurigemma; Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Giorgio Silli; and President of the National Coordination of Italian Ombudsmen and Ombudsman of the Lazio Region, Marino Fardelli.

It was a privilege for IOI President Chris Field PSM to address the special event, “Tackling abuse and building a culture of safety: the work of independent authorities in Australia”, organised and hosted by Her Excellency, the Australian Ambassador to the Holy See, Ms Chiara Porro, on the occasion of President Field’s visit to Rome and the visit of the Australian eSafety Commissioner, Ms Julie Inman Grant.

Immediately prior to the international Ombudsman conference in Rome commencing, IOI President Chris Field PSM was delighted to meet the Australian Ambassador to the Holy See, Her Excellency Ms Chiara Porro. Importantly, 2023 marks 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and the Holy See. It was also President Field’s pleasure to meet the Chargé d'Affaires of the Australian Embassy in Italy, Ms Mary Ellen Miller.