The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Nina Karpachova took part in the ongoing 16th session of the UN Human Rights Council. On 9 March 2011 the Ombudsman made an oral statement at the Annual full-day meeting on the rights of the child focused on children who live and work in the street.

On 15 March 2011 the African Ombudsman Research Centre of the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA) was launched by South African President Jacob Zuma at the University of Kwazulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa. Find a full report of I.O.I. Regional Vice-President Adv. John R. Walters here.

The Control Yuan of the Republic of China is going to host the 26^th Australasian and Pacific Ombudsman Conference of the I.O.I. in Taipei, March 23 – 26, 2011.

The European Region of the I.O.I. presents its new website that focuses on member institutions and current activities in the region. 

The I.O.I. has been shocked and extremely saddened to learn of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck parts of Japan. All members of the International Ombudsman Institute would like to offer sincere condolences to those who are suffering in the wake of this catastrophe and particularly those who have lost loved ones.

Alberta Ombudsman Gord Button resigned from his position as a Director representing the North American Region on the Board of Directors of the I.O.I. In the previous membership year Gord Button acted as Treasurer of the I.O.I. and significantly contributed to the success of the Institute. 

Minority communities in Hungary have had great expectations about the new Parliament elected in April 2010. They were hoping that the two-third majority of the governing political forces would pass the legislation vital for their interests that had not been adopted for years due to the lack of political consent.