In communications to President Dolores de Cospeda I.O.I. President Beverley Wakem, Secretary General Peter Kostelka and European Regional Vice-President Rafael Ribó have expressed their concern on behalf of the I.O.I. regarding recent developments in Castilla-La Mancha that might lead to the abolition of its Ombudsman institution.

I.O.I. Europe organises a topical workshop on “The defense of rights and good practices in private management of public services - The Role of the Ombudsman” on 21 and 22 November 2011 in Barcelona.

According to Article 21 (2) of the I.O.I. By-laws “The officers of the Institute, except the Secretary General, shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Board from amongst the Directors”. As a consequence officer elections will be held during the Livingstone Board Meeting to appoint the President, Vice-President and Treasurer of the Institute.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin has announced a systemic investigation into how the province deals with the use of excessive force against inmates by Ontario jail guards, sparked by numerous complaints that such incidents are being covered up or ignored.

"Measures taken against flag-waving pro-Tibetan demonstrators during the visit of the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao in Budapest, had violated the rights of free expression and human dignity, and the prohibition of discrimination"- revealed by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Civil Rights, Prof. Dr. Máté Szabó.

The I.O.I. General Secretariat is pleased to announce Ms Youngran Kim, Chairperson ACRC, Republic of Korea, and Mr Asad Ashraf Malik, Provincial Ombudsman Sindh, Pakistan, as the two newly elected Directors of the I.O.I. Board.

The International Ombudsman Institute welcomes Sri Lanka’s Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration back as an I.O.I. member. The I.O.I. Board of Directors carefully assessed the request submitted by Sri Lanka in May and decided to give way to the demand welcoming the office's incumbent L.A.Tissa Ekanayake back in the I.O.I. community.

Every year since 1945, the “European Forum Alpbach” has been held in the Tyrolian mountain village of Alpbach. Speakers and participants from all parts of the world, and with different backgrounds in science, economics or politics, experienced experts and students, come together in the framework of this prestigious event to discuss current issues and to formulate interdisciplinary solutions.