On Tuesday, 27 May 2014, a webinar in Spanish on the role of Ombudsman institutions in advancing open government (“Rol de Defensorías del Pueblo para avanzar el gobierno abierto”) will take place.

The Provincial Ombudsman initiated action upon the complaint of a representative of the Pakistan Human Rights Development Organization.

It is with great pleasure that the IOI has learned about the recent nomination of Ombudswoman Catherine de Bruecker, Federal Ombudsman of Belgium, as one of the European Directors on the “world” Board of the IOI Board of Directors.

Saskatchewan’s Ombudsman, Mary McFadyen, tabled the office’s annual report for 2013. She acknowledged the work done prior to her arrival in April 2014 and thanked Acting Ombudsman Janet Mirwaldt for her leadership and direction since July 2013. Going forward, McFadyen said she plans to keep an eye on the way the province is providing services to a growing population.

On 8 May 2014 the Ombudsman, Ms Connie Lau, declared a direct investigation into the Administration’s regulation of the fire safety measures for New Territories Exempted Houses (NTEHs).

The Information Commissioner and Commissioner for Environmental Information, Peter Tyndall, launched his Annual Report for 2013, on Wednesday 7 May 2014; the sixteenth since the founding of the Office in 1998.

On 8-9 May 2014 the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Regional Meeting for Europe will take place in Dublin.The event comes at an important time for OGP in Europe. Over 20 countries from the region are currently developing new open government reform commitments as part of their OGP Action Plans.