Ombudsman Grace Tikambenji Malera delivered a determination in the matter of how government through the Ministry of Justice’s Office of the Solicitor General flouted procedures in shortlisting and interviewing two candidates for the post of Director General for the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Malawi.

In the December issue of the Transparency Newsletter, the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) shares news on the most recent achievements, events and developments of the office.

The NSW Ombudsman has tabled the Casebook January 2025: Investigations and complaint-handling case studies, highlighting some of the myriad of complaints it has dealt with across a range of NSW government agencies, local councils and community services providers.

On 8 January 2025, the Control Yuan National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) held a press conference to release its special report, “Your Voice Plants the Seeds of Change - Systematic Inquiry Report on Sexual Abuse in Schools and Placement Institutions.” The investigation results were jointly announced by supervising committee members Chu-Fang Chang, Chiu-Chin Tien, and Li-Chiung Su.

The Commonwealth Ombudsman has expanded its functions with the establishment of the National Student Ombudsman (NSO) which commenced operations on 1 February 2025. The NSO is a free, independent, and impartial service for students to resolve complaints about their higher education provider.

In 2021, as a result of persistent media reports, alleging violations of basic human rights and non-observance of prison regulations within the Corradino Correctional Facility, and after NGO “Moviment Graffitti” wrote to the Ombudsman highlighting these concerns, the Ombudsman Mr Anthony Mifsud decided to conduct this investigation in accordance with sub-article (2) of Article 13 of the Ombudsman Act (Cap. 385).

On 2 February 2025, Ms. Carmit Fenton, Adv. entered into her seven-year term of office as Head of the Ombudsman Office. Ms. Fenton was appointed as Head of the Ombudsman Office by the State Audit Affairs Committee of the Knesset (Israeli parliament), upon the recommendation of the State Comptroller and Ombudsman, Mr. Matanyahu Englman.

On 21 January, Maria Stylianou-Lottides, Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights of Cyprus, hosted the IOI European Board meeting in Nicosia. Mrs. Stylianou had arranged for an excellent programme which included a meeting with the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides.