Unfortunately, the seminar “The Right to Gender Identity and Affective-Sexual Diversity. Challenges for Equality” had to be cancelled due to low registration numbers. It was meant to take place in Bilbao on 20 and 21 May 2013.

A mid-term Board Meeting of the IOI took place on 15 and 16 April 2013 in Vienna. Peter Kostelka, Secretary General of the IOI since 2009, welcomed 17 Ombudsman and their staff from around the world to this event.

During their mid-term Board Meeting in Vienna in April 2013 the Board voted for Thailand to host the next IOI World Conference in 2016.

On 8 April 2013 a Delegation of the Petitions Committee of the German Bundestag visited the IOI Secretary General Peter Kostelka. The main topics were the latest developments at the Petitions Committee, the Austrian Ombudsman Board and the IOI (International Ombudsman Institute).

Iowa Ombudsman Ruth Cooperrider has issued the office’s Annual Report for 2012. The office, situated in the legislative branch, investigates complaints about state and local government agencies.  The office of 15 full-time employees opened 4,498 cases in 2012.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman published the first issue of its e-newsletter "Resolve".

The Office of the Veterans Ombudsman published a report on “Improving the New Veterans Charter”. It is a review of the financial, vocational rehabilitation and assistance, and family support programs.

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman highlights the poor awareness of the code that protects victims of crime as Ministry of Justice launches a consultation on changes. This lack of awareness of the Victims’ Code by people working in the criminal justice system is placing some victims of crime under extreme duress and leading to injustices.