On 18 December 2022, 20 years had passed since the adoption, by the UN General Assembly, of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Thanks to the implementation of the OPCAT into the Polish legal system, the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture has been operating in Poland for nearly 15 years already as part of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights.

El Defensor del Pueblo, Eduardo Leblanc González, participó de manera virtual el 4 de deciembre de 2023, en la conferencia de partes de cambio climático COP28 UAE, en la que tocó el tema: “Efecto del Cambio Climático en comunidades Insulares: El Ejemplo de Gardí Subdup, Panamá”.

En avril 2021, la Commission européenne a publié une proposition de règlement sur l’intelligence artificielle (IA). Depuis, le Défenseur des droits et la Commission nationale consultative des droits de l’Homme ont respectivement apporté leurs contributions. Tous deux plaident pour la prise en compte des droits fondamentaux et du droit de la non-discrimination dans le cadre juridique en cours de négociation.

El Defensor del Pueblo andaluz cumplió, el 1 de diciembre de 2023, 40 años como “voz de los sin voz” y su titular, Jesús Maeztu, llamó a la ciudadanía a “no asumir como normal lo inaceptable” como respuesta ante la pérdida o retroceso en el disfrute de los derechos sociales.

Chaired by the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary, Dr. Ákos Kozma, the meeting of the Disability Advisory Board, which consists of the representatives of the organisations active in various fields of disability in Hungary was held at the General Directorate of Disability of the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary in Debrecen on 15 November 2023.

The stories of two men with mental disabilities, recorded by employees of the Defender’s Office during their visits, illustrate a phenomenon, which has mostly been overlooked so far: some people with mental disabilities, especially those with challenging behaviour, receive high doses of tranquilisers. According to the Deputy Defender, this practice has to change. Behaviour is often the only possible form of communication for people who cannot otherwise make contact with others. It is therefore necessary that the latter understand the unmet needs behind the patient’s challenging behaviour and be able to respond accordingly. Tranquillisers must not be the first, let alone the only and permanent “solution”.

OmbudsPEI has tabled its first annual report, which highlights the creation,
growth, work and statistics of the office’s first 14 months of operation.

Under the chairmanship of Major Azam Suleman Khan (Retd) (Hilal-i-Imtiaz), Hon’ble Ombudsman Punjab, the Office of Ombudsman Punjab (Pakistan) celebrated the International Children's Day with great enthusiasm. Chief Provincial Commissioner for Children, Ombudsman Punjab and senior officers of the Office were also present on the occasion.