The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights together with the East Ukrainian center of public initiatives held a round table discussing the access of the public to general town planning scheme and how to ensure the implementation of requirements of the legislation.

The Veterans Ombudsman Canada published a review on the support provided by Veterans Affairs Canada through its Long-Term Care Program. This review provides a basis of understanding of the Department’s current role in the funding of long-term care benefits for Veterans and addresses the areas of eligibility, accessibility and the cost of the program.

Ombudsman Ruth Cooperrider will investigate the conditions at a juvenile home run by the state of Iowa to ensure that youths are treated appropriately.

On 8 August 2013, the President of Hungary nominated Dr. László Székely as the new candidate for the position of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary, after consulting all four political groups represented in the Hungarian Parliament and discussing the basic principles and requirements regarding the nominated person.

Professor José de Faria Costa was elected by Parliament as the new Portuguese Ombudsman (Provedor de Justiça) on 24 July 2013 and succeeds former Ombudsman Judge Alfredo José de Sousa in this office.

The Ombudsman Commission of Papua New Guinea released the June edition of its monthly newsletter, which is now available on the IOI Website.  

Catalan Ombudsman Rafael Ribó submitted a report on “Child malnutrition in Catalonia”, in which he alleges that - according to the ICS diagnostic codes of June 2013 - 50,000 children have food deprivation and 750 suffer from malnutrition and poverty and calls for urgent Government action to guarantee the right of children to adequate food.

On 16 April, upon the nomination of the Speaker, the Seimas (Parliament) appointed Augustinas Normantas to investigate activities of officials of state institutions and agencies instead of investigation of activities of officials of municipal institutions and agencies that he has been responsible for since 2005.