On 20 December 2024, the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China celebrated its 25th anniversary. On the same date, amongst the holders of key public positions, a new Commissioner against Corruption of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China was appointed, Ms. Ao Ieong Seong.

Kindly click here to read about the outreach initiatives by the Office of the Ombudsman Tonga to different islands of the Kingdom.

On 17 December 2024, the UN General Assembly adopted the Resolution on The role of Ombudsman and mediator institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights, good governance and the rule of law. This resolution is submitted biennially and the newly adopted version acknowledges the important contribution Ombudsman institutions make to ensure the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 16 on building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. 

This year, the Office of the Ombudsman of Malta will mark its 30th Anniversary since the enactment of the Ombudsman Act 1995. Kindly click here to read an article by Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon, Parliamentary Ombudsman of Malta, announcing three events which will be organised this year to celebrate this anniversary.

With a view to commemorating the Human Rights Day 2024, the Office of the Ombudsman conducted an awareness session on 5th December 2024 at the Mauritius Prisons Training School. With an engaged audience of 65 participants, the session aimed to sensitize Prison Officers and newly recruited Officers on the role and services provided by the Office and their duties and responsibility under prevailing local legislation and International Covenants.

The Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman) has recently published its 15th issue of the Ombudsman Newsletter (October - December 2024). This newsletter's main topics are, amongst others, an introduction to the third cohort of commissioners that took office on 9 December 2024, the Commission being named as the Best Public Sector Legal Department of 2024 at the 7th Annual Gala and Award Ceremony of the Nairobi Legal Awards as well as a training for Civil Society Organizations including the dissemination of a Public Inquiry Report on the challenges citizens face when obtaining legal identity documents.

The Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, on 27 December 2024 announced the launch of a direct investigation operation to probe the Government’s work on animal management and protection of animal rights and welfare.

The Control Yuan National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) held the awards ceremony for the “Color Our Rights: 2024 Human Rights Poster Design Competition” on 8 December 2024.