The Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia published the English version of its Annual Report 2012. Activities undertaken by the Ombudsman’s Office have been fruitful: 2633 written submissions have been received in 2012, which is by 387 submissions more than in 2011.

Maladministration complaints against government departments/agencies up by 34% with health and social care sector up by 22%. Health and social care, housing and planning remain the key areas of complaint.

The Office of the Ombudsman of Catalunya published its electronic newsletter for the month of July 2013.

The 2013 Staff Exchange Program between the Control Yuan and Ombudsman/Human Rights Offices overseas was held from June 24 to 26. The program was joined by eight participants from Thailand, Vietnam, Kiribati, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Fiji, the Gambia and Swaziland.

Prof. Máté Szabó, Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary, hosted a conference on the actual situation, problems and challenges concerning children’s right to a healthy environment. Several scholars and representatives of governmental bodies and the civil society were presented on the one-day event.

On 3 July 2013, Ms Emily O’Reilly, Ombudsman and Information Commissioner of Ireland, has been elected by the European Parliament and will succeed Nikiforos Diamandouros as new European Ombudsman.

On 1 July 2013 Dr. Günther Kräuter took office as Member of the Austrian Ombudsman Board and was appointed IOI Secretary General by the Austrian Ombudsman Board in its inaugural session.

On 1 July 2013 the new members of the Austrian Ombudsman Board (AOB) took office. Günther Kräuter, Gertrude Brinek and Peter Fichtenbauer were elected by the Austrian National Council for the term of office from July 2013 to June 2019. For Gertrude Brinek it is already the second term of office. In its inaugural meeting the new AOB appointed Günther Kräuter as Secretary General of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI).