Residents of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Karachi were suffering from the acute shortage of safe drinking water for the last one year during which they had no other option but to buy a water tanker to meet their basic need. A complaint to Principla Ombudsman Sindh, Mr. Asad Ashraf Malik, for supply of potable water was filed.

 

IOI Europe’s Regional President Rafael Ribó hosted a workshop on human rights challenges, held in Barcelona from 3 – 4 April 2017, to resume the debate on the regression of rights launched a year ago. In light of recent political developments emphasis was particularly put on “Populism? Regression of Rights and the Role of the Ombudsman”. Representatives from IOI member institutions from all over Europe participated at this workshop to discuss and analyse the current situation and the role of the Ombudsman in this regard.  

On 3^rd April, the Ombudsman of Hong Kong, Ms. Connie Lau, announced at the launch ceremony of “Ombudsman Special II” that the drama series, jointly produced by the Office of The Ombudsman and Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), will be broadcast every Tuesday as of 4^th April.

El Juzgado Federal Nº 1 de Lomas de Zamora hizo lugar a la acción de habeas corpus en favor de los internos del CPF I de Ezeiza.

The Ombudsman, Ms Connie Lau, declared a direct investigation to examine whether the follow-up mechanism of the Department of Health (“DH”) and the Education Bureau (“EDB”) for the psychological health assessment of school children is adequate and effective.

From Monday 3 April the Ombudsman’s Office of Ireland will be accepting complaints from people living in Direct Provision, while complaints from children or on behalf of children, can be made to the Irish Ombudsman for Children’s Office. This is a change that has been long called for by both Offices and which will provide equal access to complaints procedures for people in Direct Provision.

While the scope of the preventive efforts was expanded in 2016 to include visits to child welfare institutions and mental health care institutions for children and young people, in 2017 the focus is on children and young people deprived of their liberty will continue.

The initial name of Commissioner for Public Relations has been changed to Ombudsman.  This is to put Tonga in line with other countries in calling the head of the Office "Ombudsman".  The Office no longer holds the name "Office of the Commissioner for Public Relations" but is known now as "the Office of the Ombudsman."