A thematic workshop was held on the important subject theme of employment opportunities for the youth. Several scholars and representatives of the civil society and the private sector held their presentations on the one-day event which took place in the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights.

Peter Kostelka’s role as Secretary General of the IOI ends as his term as a member of the Austrian Ombudsman Board expires. On behalf of the IOI family IOI President Dame Beverley A. Wakem expressed her thanks for his immense contribution.

The Ombudsman Appointments Committee of Papua New Guinea (PNG) appointed a new Chief Ombudsman on 20 June 2013.

On June 5, 2013, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Valeriya Lutkovska presented the Annual report on the state of observance and protection of the rights and freedoms of persons and citizens in Ukraine at a plenary session of the parliament.

In May 2013, the Québec National Assembly adopted the Act to amend the Police Act as concerns independent investigations. This Act was the result of the recommendations of the Ombudsperson, Raymonde Saint-Germain, in her special report on the investigation procedure applied in Québec for incidents involving police officers.

Dr McGee has retired as New Zealand's Ombudsman. The new appointee is Professor Ron Paterson.

The Ombudsman put forth 548 recommendations and suggestions to the Administration in 2012. A total of 280,592 letters were received: 33,478 complaints, 371 ex officio investigations and 246,743 requests for the filing of appeals against 29 legal standards.

The first report of the Austrian Ombudsman Board on the activities of the National Preventive Mechanism 2012 describes the previous activities relative to preventive monitoring and control and provides information about the investigations undertaken in the period under review.