The Provedor for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ), Virgílio da Silva Guterres “Lamukan”, accompanied by the Deputy Provedor for Human Rights, Maria Marilia da Costa, Director for Promotion, Joanita Silvira da Costa, and Head of UAJAB, Teresinha Ximenes, held a high-level meeting with the General Commander of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL), Assistant Police Commissioner Afonso dos Santos, and the Second General Commander of PNTL, Assistant Police Commissioner Natercia Eufrasia Soares Martins, who was accompanied by Inspector General of PNTL, Assistant Police Commissioner Hermenegildo Gonçalves da Cruz. The meeting took place in the VIP meeting room at the PNTL General Headquarters in Caicoli.

This meeting was convened with the clear objective of strengthening institutional cooperation between PDHJ and PNTL, reaffirming our shared commitment to advancing human rights and the rule of law across Timor-Leste. Such cooperation is not merely administrative but fundamental to ensuring that polices operate with integrity, accountability, and deep respect for the fundamental rights of every citizen. The discussions focused primarily on the continuation of Human Rights and Good Governance training for PNTL officers, an initiative that has been ongoing and remains a cornerstone of the partnership between the two institutions. According to PDHJ’s plan, training for PNTL in 2026 will concentrate on the municipalities of Dili, Ainaro, Liquiça, and Lautém; however, the training has not yet commenced due to the ongoing transition of PNTL’s leadership. Nevertheless, both sides expressed optimism that the training would resume swiftly once the new leadership structure is fully in place, recognizing that timely capacity-building is essential to professionalizing the police force.

The meeting also reflected the PDHJ Statute, which clearly identifies PNTL as one of the three key institutions with which PDHJ has a mandate to cooperate, alongside FALINTIL-FDTL and the Prison Guard. This legal framework underscores the importance of sustained dialogue and joint action between PDHJ and PNTL in advancing human rights protections across all security sectors, and it serves as a strong foundation for long-term institutional partnership. During the meeting, the Provedor extended congratulations and a warm welcome to the new leadership of PNTL, wishing them every success in their challenging roles. He also acknowledged the difficulties faced by PNTL officers and reaffirmed that PDHJ will continue to advocate for the improvement of their working conditions and overall welfare, because a well-supported police force is better equipped to protect the rights of all Timorese citizens.

The General Commander of PNTL welcomed the PDHJ delegation and highlighted that human rights training for its members is highly relevant and necessary to help them become more professional, ethical, and community-oriented officers. Second General Commander Natercia reiterated that cooperation between PNTL and PDHJ is critically important, stressing the need to review the previous Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions and, if necessary, incorporate additional matters to further improve and institutionalize their cooperation. This proactive step reflects both institutions’ dedication to evolving their partnership to meet emerging challenges and uphold the highest standards of human rights practice. This meeting marks yet another milestone in the growing partnership between PDHJ and PNTL, demonstrating that when human rights institutions and security forces work side by side, the ultimate winners are the Timorese people who deserve justice, dignity, and protection under the law.

On March 11, 2026, the Public Defender of Georgia addressed the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia with a legislative proposal on ensuring communication between imprisoned persons and their children.

In the interests of justice, the legislation provides for the possibility of the investigator/prosecutor restricting the accused person’s communication with the outside world (meetings, telephone conversations, and correspondence). The problem is that the restriction automatically extends to the accused person’s minor children, since there is no special rule that would regulate the aforementioned issue.

The Public Defender believes that the right of children of imprisoned parents to have their family life respected should not be restricted blanketly, with more intensity and duration than is necessary to achieve a legitimate goal. Legislation should provide guarantees for the protection of the rights and best interests of the child, as a result of the assessment of the circumstances of each individual case.

The Public Defender, referring to the relevant international standards, considers it appropriate – as a result of the implementation of legislative amendments, to develop a specific rule according to which the investigative body, when making a decision on restricting the right of the accused to communicate with the outside world, would be tasked with allowing the possibility of not extending the restriction to the prisoner’s minor child, considering the best interests of the child, the specifics of the charge and the individual circumstances of the case.

– ACRC launches operation of the “Generative AI-Based Public Communication and Civil Complaint Analysis System”

– Pilot implementation for four institutions including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) has completed the project titled “Establishment of a Generative AI-Based Public Communication and Civil Complaint Analysis System” utilizing civil complaint data submitted through e-People. After improving data quality, the Commission officially launches the related services starting on Feb. 5.

The ACRC has been pursuing the project with the goal of moving beyond the simple aggregation or keyword-based search of large-scale civil complaint data accumulated in e-People. The system aims to enable artificial intelligence to understand and analyze the context and meaning of civil complaints.

The project was selected as the “2025 Hyper-Scale AI Service Development Support Program” by the Ministry of Science and ICT (implementing agency: National Information Society Agency) and was carried out from July to December of last year. Key components of the project include: AI-based recommendation of civil complaint responses, Batch processing of frequent and duplicate complaints, and AI-based analysis of civil complaints.

Despite an unexpected obstacle the fire at the National Information Resources Service in September 2025 the ACRC successfully completed the project without delays through previously secured training data and close cooperation with related institutions. To enhance the reliability and usability of the AI services, the Commission conducted data consistency checks, supplemented training datasets, and improved response quality before launching the project as well.

The newly introduced AI services will first be provided to four pilot government institutions in order to verify their practical applicability. First, the “AI Recommendation for Civil Complaint Response” service will be provided to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The AI analyzes relevant laws and regulations, past complaint cases, and work manuals to draft a response and present it to the public officers who are in charge of the civil petitions. This enables citizens to receive responses more quickly and accurately than before.

The “Batch Processing of Frequent and Duplicate Complaints” service will be provided to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Incheon Metropolitan City, and Siheung. The AI automatically identifies and clusters complaints with identical or similar content so that they can be processed collectively at once. This significantly reduces the time spent on repetitive administrative tasks and allows responsible officials to focus on reviewing the substance of responses, thereby improving the quality of civil complaint services.

In addition, the “AI-Based Civil Complaint Analysis” service will also be launched. By analyzing the meaning and context of complaints, the AI will rapidly detect issues closely related to people’s daily lives. Moving beyond the existing word-centered analytical approach, the system will better identify public inconveniences and support policy improvements.

The ACRC Vice Chairperson and Secretary General Han Sam Suk stated, “The launch of AI-based civil complaint services marks a significant turning point in enabling the government to understand the voices of the people more deeply and reflect them in public administration.” He added, “The Commission will continue to promote innovation in public communication through the use of artificial intelligence technologies and strive to realize an administration that people can truly experience and feel.”

A capacity-building workshop on anti-corruption, good governance, and effective complaint redressal mechanisms was jointly organized by the Provincial Ombudsman Sindh and Transparency International Pakistan in Karachi.

The workshop was graced by Mohammad Sohail Rajput, Provincial Ombudsman Sindh; Justice R. Zia Pervez, Chairman Transparency International Pakistan; and François Valérian, Chair Transparency International, as special guests.

Addressing the participants, the Provincial Ombudsman Sindh highlighted a significant increase in public complaint registrations achieved through sustained awareness initiatives, including print and electronic media, social media outreach, open courts, seminars, workshops, and ambassador programs. He noted that internship opportunities for students have strengthened civic engagement, while 2,660 complaints were resolved on the spot during open forums in rural areas.

He further stated that, to enhance the effectiveness and credibility of grievance redressal, the Ombudsman’s Office has entered into institutional collaborations with reputable NGOs, including Transparency International Pakistan, Legal Aid Society, Pakistan Red Crescent Society, and HANDS Welfare Foundation. Regular review meetings, seminars, and workshops with heads of government institutions, along with the establishment of standing committees, have strengthened public trust. To improve transparency and accessibility, a Mobile App and Complaint Management System (CMS) has also been launched, enabling complainants to track complaint progress and implementation in real time.

The workshop featured expert interventions by Sirajuddin Aziz, Banking Ombudsman; Ahsan Qavi, CEO Sindh Healthcare Commission; Noor Muhammad Dayo, Information Commissioner Sindh; Sabqa Shah, Regional Head, Federal Ombudsperson Secretariat for Protection Against Harassment- Sindh Province; Kashif Ali, Executive Director TI Pakistan and Muhammad Akmal Naseem, IT Consultant, Ombudsman office among others, who shared practical tools and policy recommendations aligned with international best practices.

During the interactive Q&A session, participants emphasized actionable measures to strengthen integrity systems, enhance inter-agency coordination, and improve citizen-centric complaint handling.

At the conclusion, commemorative shields and certificates of appreciation were presented to distinguished speakers and contributors.

A large number of Provincial Administrative Secretaries to the Government of Sindh, Director Generals, Directors of various departments and senior police officers attended the event.

The Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Tatarstan held a working meeting with responsible officials of the Kazan Executive Committee on the handling of citizen notifications received through the SIS RT “Public Control.”

During the meeting, the most common complaints submitted by city residents through the system were examined in detail. In total, approximately 40 examples of citizen notifications were reviewed.

The largest number of notifications are received in the following categories: “Winter Maintenance of Street and Road Network Facilities,” “Comprehensive Landscaping,” “Barriers Obstructing Entry to Sidewalks and Lawns in the Adjacent Territory of Apartment Buildings,” “Outdoor Lighting,” “Traffic Management,” “Construction or Modernization of Children’s Playgrounds,” and “Manhole Cover Maintenance.”

Following the meeting, she recommended more careful attention to the deadlines for completing citizen notifications, the correct assignment of notification statuses, and the elimination of formal responses to citizens.

Office of the Ombudsman Punjab successfully retrieved 2250 Kanals of state-owned land from illegal occupants. With an estimated market value exceeding Rs. 55.7 million, the recovered land belonged to various government departments.

According to details, the land had been encroached by unauthorized commercial structures. The concerned departments had made repeated efforts to remove the encroachments; however, the land was ultimately vacated following directives issued by the Ombudsman Punjab. Prior to the operation, formal demarcation of the land was carried out in accordance with legal requirements to establish clear boundaries.

The Ombudsman Punjab also directed the relevant authorities to ensure that necessary measures are put in place to prevent any future re-encroachment. Local residents and complainants acknowledged the development and appreciated the timely recovery of public land.

On 9 February 2026, the report of the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman) on activities in 2025 was reviewed at the meetings of the factions of the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan, the Democratic Party “Milliy Tiklanish,” the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, the Social Democratic Party “Adolat,” and UzLiDeP in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

As noted, in 2025 the Ombudsman received a total of 26,372 appeals, which is 12.6 percent more than in 2024. In terms of regions, the highest number of appeals was recorded in Kashkadarya Region, the city of Tashkent, and Surkhandarya Region, while the lowest number was recorded in the Republic of Karakalpakstan and Syrdarya Region. Based on the review of appeals and the results of monitoring visits, in order to eliminate violations of human rights and freedoms as well as the causes and conditions enabling such violations, 194 response measures were submitted to state bodies and institutions and their officials in the form of submissions, demands, warnings, applications, statements of claim, and conclusions.

The Ombudsman ensured the cancellation of unfounded debts of citizens amounting to more than 263 million soums. The labor rights of 57 citizens were restored. A total of 118 officials of state bodies and law enforcement agencies who violated human rights were held disciplinarily, administratively, and criminally liable.

It was emphasized at the event that the Ombudsman pays particular attention to improving the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan on human rights and freedoms and harmonizing it with international legal standards, as well as to developing international cooperation in the field of human rights.

During the discussions, relevant answers were provided to questions raised by faction members, and the Ombudsman’s report on activities for 2025 was approved.

Dí1i, 12 February 2026— On 11 February 2026, the IX Constitutional Government, through the Council of Ministers, approved a draft Government Resolution presented by the Minister of Interior, Francisco da Costa Guterres, temporarily suspending the Public Recruitment for Admission to the Training Course for Officers of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) and establishing an independent commission, comprising national and international members, to conduct a comprehensive investigation.

The Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice considers this decision necessary and appropriate under the current circumstances. When serious doubts arise regarding transparency, fairness, and legality in a public recruitment process, immediate corrective action is not optional it is an obligation.

The Office of the Ombudsman (PDHJ) received multiple formal complaints from candidates alleging irregularities and potential preferential treatment in the selection process, particularly at the stage of approval of candidates for medical examinations.

In response, PDHJ acted decisively within its constitutional mandate. The Office:

• Initiated urgent fiscalization and legal review;
• Officially recommended urgent inquiry and suspension of the process to the Minister of Interior and the National Parliament;
• Established an internal investigation team to commence inquiries.

Previously, PDHJ had also filed an application for Abstract (Successive) Review of Constitutionality with the Court of Appeal against Ministerial Diploma No. 17/2025, 21 June specifically challenging the requirements set out in Articles 3, 20, 37 and 42, including the specific requirements contained in the annex to the said Diploma. On 30 December 2025, the Court of Appeal declared certain norms of that Diploma unconstitutional and illegal.

The Ombudsman emphasises that public recruitment into the National Police must be based strictly on merit, legality, and equal opportunity. Any perception or evidence of favouritism, nepotism, or manipulation undermines public trust not only in the recruitment process but in the rule of law itself.

The Ombudsman expects the newly established independent commission to conduct a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation. The process must be credible. The findings must be evidence-based. The conclusions must be made public.

Should the investigation confirm serious violations of transparency or legality, PDHJ will firmly recommend:

• The full cancellation of the current recruitment process;
• The reopening of a new process under strengthened and independent supervision;
• The immediate application of disciplinary, administrative, and criminal measures against any individuals found responsible for corrupt or unlawful conduct.

There can be no tolerance for corruption, abuse of power, or manipulation within state institutions especially within law enforcement.

On this occasion, the Ombudsman wishes to express appreciation and recognition to the candidates, civil society, members of Parliament, and citizens who raised their concerns responsibly. Their actions reflect democratic maturity and civic courage.

We thank the Government for responding positively to public concern and for taking corrective action. Listening to citizens and acting accordingly strengthens governance. We encourage continued openness and commitment to transparency.

At the end of the day, we all strive toward a single objective: to protect the integrity of our institutions and to ensure that Timor-Leste moves forward with equity, justice, and credibility.

The Ombudsman will continue to monitor this matter closely and will not hesitate to take further action if required.

Ms. Ayesha Hamid, Ombudsman Punjab and First Vice President of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) attended the Ombudsman Stakeholder Conference and Technical Workshop hosted virtually by the Office of the Ombudsman, Liberia as a key speaker.

In her address, Ms. Ayesha Hamid talked about Administrative Justice and Grievance Redressal in Punjab. She highlighted the shared mandates, challenges, and public expectations of ombudsman institutions across continents, shaped by similar colonial histories in South Asia and Africa. She emphasized the principle of free and fair justice for every citizen and outlined the Office’s commitment to expanding access to grievance redressal through grassroots initiatives. The address also underscored the importance of strengthening international relations among ombudsman institutions and enhancing administrative mechanisms to ensure efficient, transparent, and citizen-focused complaint resolution.

The participation in this international forum reinforces Ms. Ayesha Hamid’s active contribution to the global ombudsman community.

The Ombudsman Institution of Azerbaijan organized an awareness-raising event on the protection of the right to access information in Shirvan city.

Lamiya Zeynalova, Head of the Department for the Protection of the Right to Access Information of the Ombudsman Office and other staff members spoke about key provisions of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Access to Information:” and the rights and obligations of information holders, review procedures for information requests, including their enforcement timeframes, as well as the practical application of the relevant legislative requirements.

The speakers also highlighted the Ombudsman’s monitoring of the protection of the right to access information, the investigations of incoming complaints, and the awareness-raising activities undertaken in this area.

During the event, the relevant video was demonstrated, and a presentation was delivered on the relevant educational materials and methodological guidelines. In the course of the interactive discussions with participants, their questions on practical cases were answered.

In conclusion, the importance of strengthening cooperation between state bodies and the Ombudsman Office to ensure the more effective realization of the right to access information was emphasized, and it was noted that mutual collaboration in this direction will be further continued.