The Northern Ireland Ombudsman published his Annual Report for 2013-2014 today. As well as outlining the statistics about complaints and how they have been handled, the Annual Report includes a list of key recommendations in reported and settled cases. It also includes selected anonymised case summaries to aid learning and best practice sharing across public sector bodies.

Information Commissioner, Peter Tyndall, has welcomed the Government’s proposal to abolish the €15 application fee for making FOI requests.  Both he and the former Commissioner, Emily O’Reilly, have previously publicly expressed their view that the application fee acted as a disincentive to members of the public seeking access to information held by public bodies.  

On 30 June, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) released a handbook that aims to help strengthen national guardianship systems for children in Europe. It explains the important role guardians play in protecting all children from child abuse and exploitation.

The General Assembly of the Association of Mediterranean Ombudsmen has welcomed the Maltese Parliamentary Ombudsman's proposal for the setting up of an International Ombudsman Law Institution in Malta, during its session held today in Tirana, Albania.

It’s with resolute determination and profound sadness that three international Ombusmen’s Associations and the Conseil International Permanent sur la Prévention et la Médiation des Conflits et des Guerres, CIPM join their voices to deplore the abduction and detention of over 200 Nigerian schoolgirls which occurred more than two months ago.

The Ombudsman for the Defence Forces, Mr. Patrick Anthony McCourt, has reported changing trends in the level of complaints reported to his Office during 2012.

The Ombudsman of Catalonia, as the Catalan Authority for the Prevention of Torture (OPCAT), has imposed himself the goal of having the Istanbul Protocol implemented in all places of deprivation of liberty in Catalonia within six months. According to this manual, the Ombudsman will lead the development of actual protocols for each type of centre.

On the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the chairperson of the Austrian Ombudsman Board Günther Kräuter acknowledges the work of the Expert Commissions and the Human Rights Advisory Council.