Kindly click here to read the IOI European Region’s Quarterly Newsletter for the period from January 2025 to March 2025.

The Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary has successfully implemented the IOI-supported regional subsidy project “Connecting Ombudsman Procedures and Citizens”. The two-phase initiative aimed at strengthening public awareness of the Ombudsman’s work, particularly in the field of disability rights, and at familiarizing the public with the network of newly established regional offices.

The Ombudsman Association 2025 conference will take place in Belfast from 9-11 June 2025, at the Hilton Belfast. An exciting programme covers key issues facing the ombudsman sector. Registration is open until 13 May 2025. 

El jurado del Concurso de Dibujo sobre Derechos Humanos del Defensor del Pueblo acaba de hacer público los ganadores de la XX edición. Más de 2.700 niños y niñas de toda España, y de colegios españoles en el extranjero, han participado en esta ocasión presentando otros tantos dibujos, de los que 1.831 corresponden a escolares de Educación Primaria, 839 a alumnos y alumnas de Educación Secundaria y 50 a alumnado de Educación Especial.

On 25 March 2025 the African Ombudsman Research Centre (AORC), in collaboration with the IOI, held a webinar to discuss the critical role of children's Ombudsman offices in promoting and safeguarding the rights of the most vulnerable. In case you missed the live session, or wish to revisit its insights, you can access the recording of this webinar on YouTube.

The 2nd International Ombud Expo (IOE) 2024 concluded on a high note, reaffirming the crucial role of Ombud institutions in strengthening governance, upholding human rights, and ensuring good public administration. Hosted in Gaborone, Botswana, from July 29 to August 2, 2024, the event brought together 541 delegates, including Ombud offices, human rights bodies, grievance handlers, and integrity organisations from over 100 countries. The participation of the AOMA Secretariat AORC and of some institutions, which could not afford exhibition stalls and have their accommodation subsidised, received financial support of the IOI including through its regional subsidy programme.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan) finalized the 2025 Basic Plan for the Comprehensive Integrity Assessment of Public Institutions on the 24th of February 2025. A comprehensive integrity evaluation will be conducted for all local councils this year to focus efforts on improving entrenched corruption-prone areas in local settings. The final plan for the comprehensive integrity assessment will be confirmed after gathering opinions from various institutions with the results to be announced in December 2025.

The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has released his final report entitled "The way I see it" to Parliament on 27 March 2025. Kindly click here to read his report. Mr Boshier leaves office today, 28 March 2025.