Every year the American news magazine assembles the 100 most influential people in the world and publishes its annual Time 100 list. This year, Time Magazine included South Africa’s Public Protector, Adv. Thuli Madonsela as one of the world’s most influential people in the category “Leaders”.

It is with tremendous sadness and sorrow that the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) has learned that Dr. Edgardo José Bistoletti, Ombudsman of the Province of Santa Fe (Argentina) and member of the IOI Board of Directors, passed away on Friday, 18 April 2014 after a short but severe illness.

The newsletter is published quarterly by the Forum of Pakistan Ombudsmen (FPO). The most recent issue is dedicated to the event of the 1^st Conference on the Networking of Ombudsmen in the OIC member states.

The Hungarian Ombudsman’s Office is planning a conference to understand the unique characteristics of the relevant national institutions entrusted with promoting intergenerational solidarity. The conference will focus on the legal aspects of the protection and promotion of the interests of future generations.

On 16 April 2014, Provincial Ombudsperson Kim Carter released her office’s latest report, a systemic investigation into an environmental protection program: “Striking a Balance: The Challenges of Using a Professional Reliance Model in Environmental Protection.”

The webinar was sponsored by Open Government Partnership (OGP), the World Bank Institute and the IOI and aimed to discuss the opportunities for Ombudsman offices to engage in their respective countries’ OGP processes. It is the first webinar of the OGP Webinar Series with a focus on Ombudsman.

In April, the Office of the Human Rights Defender in Poland hosted a meeting of the IOI European Board as well as a visit of the European Ombudsman in order to discuss several topics related to human rights in a European context.  

The Western Australian Ombudsman reviews certain child deaths, identifies patterns and trends arising from these reviews and makes recommendations about ways that State government departments and authorities can prevent or reduce further child deaths.