Ombudsman Petri Jääskeläinen deals in his commentary article to his annual report with new legislation under which a national human rights institution in accordance with the UN-approved Paris Principles will be established in Finland at the beginning of 2012.

This is Emily O’Reilly´s eighth Annual Report as Ombudsman and the twenty-seventh since the Office of the Ombudsman, the first one in the State, was established back in 1984.      Complaints made to her Office in 2010 rise to 3,727 - up 30% on 2009, the highest number recorded in over 10 years.

On 22 June 2011, the President of Faso has nominated Alima Déborah Traore as the new Ombudsperson, after her predecessor, Amina Ouedraogo, retired. Alima Traore is an expert in public law and the relations between the public administration and the citizens.

A joint investigation by the Health Service Ombudsman and the Local Government Ombudsman has revealed how a vulnerable adult in Merseyside, referred to as Mr B, was let down by the joint service provided by the NHS trust and council responsible for his care.

On the occasion of National Human Rights Day, the ninth International Baku Conference of Ombudspersons entitled "The cultural rights of national minorities and migrants: legal aspects and implementation" was held on 16-18 June, 2011 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

As Chair of the Committee on Petitions, Member of Parliament Andreas Kugler, on 26 May 2011 presented the report on the activities of the Committee in 2010 to the Plenary.

On 1 June 2011, during a Public Lecture at the University of Stellenbosch in Cape Town, Western Cape, Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela delivered his speech about the Role of the Public Protector in ensuring accountability and integrity within state affairs.

The annual meeting of the I.O.I. Board of Directors will be held in Livingstone, Zambia from 30 October to 2 November 2011. The I.O.I. is looking forward to the fruitfull discussions and upcoming decisions and would like to thank Ms Caroline Sokoni, Investigator General of Zambia, for hosting this event.