AUSTRIA | Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe visits Austrian Ombudsman Board

On the occasion of Ms Dunja Mijatović’s visit to Austria, the members of the Austrian Ombudsman Board (AOB) welcomed a delegation of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe on Wednesday, 15th December 2021, in Vienna.

Ombudsman Werner Amon, who is also Secretary General of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), informed about the envisaged enhancement of the IOI’s multilateral cooperation, in particular with the United Nations. This was followed by an exchange on the key topics of Ms Mijatović’s visit to Austria, which put a specific focus on ‘Women’s rights and gender equality’ and ‘Reception and integration of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants’.

Ombudsman Walter Rosenkranz and Ombudsman Bernhard Achitz, as well as Dr. Heidi Pacher, Chief of Cabinet, explained current shortcomings in the above-mentioned thematic areas. Finally, the challenges in the field of migration at the European level were discussed.

The AOB regularly receives the current office holders of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights and closely cooperates with various committees of the Council of Europe that deal with human rights issues, such as the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT).

Source: Office of the Austrian Ombudsman Board (AOB)