The Parliamentary Ombudsman attended a symposium discussing fundamental rights issues that are currently high on the Union’s political agenda. The symposium themed ‘2007 – 2017: Is Europe doing enough to protect fundamental rights? – the children perspective’ was organised by the EU Agency for Fundamental Right.

Every year, the IOI publishes an annual report, to inform its membership about the developments and achievements of the past membership year. The IOI Annual Report 2015/2016 is now available in the three official languages of the IOI.

Durante su último plenario en Catamarca la Asociación de Defensores del Pueblo de la República Argentina (ADPRA) volvió a monitorear los temas sociales más candentes del país. Con la intención de dar impulso a la creación de una Defensoría del Pueblo en la provincia de Catamarca, ADPRA, reunió su tercer plenario anual 2017, en la capital de ese estado argentino.

The public hearings on Racism/ Racial and general Discrimination were rounded off in Windhoek last week. Several concerned groups made submissions on what they deem as discrimination and how they believe the issues should be tackled.

On Tuesday 4 July, the Chief Ombudsman joined the New Zealand Deputy State Services Commissioner and Australian and New Zealand academics to launch the results of the first phase of research into protected disclosure, or whistleblowing, processes in New Zealand and Australian organisations.

On Thursday 6 July, the Chief Ombudsman released his Report on an unannounced inspection of Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison. As a National Preventive Mechanism under OPCAT, the Ombudsman inspects and monitors places of detention to ensure people held there are treated humanely and with dignity. The new practice of publishing these reports has been started in the interests of transparency and accountability.

The Victorian Ombudsman will inspect the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in July 2017. This inspection follows the April announcement of the Ombudsman's investigation into changes needed in Victoria to implement the UN's Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT).

L’AOMF a organisé les 19-21 juin à Bruxelles, à l’invitation du Délégué général aux droits de l’enfant et avec le soutien de l’OIF, une visite d’étude de son groupe de travail sur les enfants migrants. En parallèle, le Comité AOMF sur les droits de l’enfant, présidé par Geneviève Avenard, en a profité pour se réunir.