The Ombudsman, Ms Winnie Chiu, announced a full investigation report, namely “Failure to handle properly a complaint about damaged and faded national flags and regional flags by Home Affairs Department, Chief Secretary for Administration’s Office and 1823”.

Please click here for details.

The Ombudsman acknowledged an appeal about Chonburi Provincial Social Development and Human Society Office’s delayed payment of funeral expenses for the elderly according to the traditional life style. The fact states that the number of passing elderlies – during the fiscal year 2020 – 2023 – higher than the budget allocated to the Department of Older Persons. In addition, the revised Notification of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security Re: The supporting fund for the elderly’s funeral expenses according to the traditional life style – that extends the period of funding request to within 6 months from the issued date of death certificate and increases the funeral expenses from 2,000 baht to 3,000 baht per person – also creates an accrued amount of 381,504,000 baht outstanding balance for 127,168 persons. In the fiscal year 2022, the budget is allocated only for 69,713 person or 209,139,000 baht. With insufficient budget, the complainant’s payment then had been delayed.

Department of Older Persons had issued a written notice to Bureau of the Budget notifying to apply for reserve money in the case of emergency or necessity within the central budget for the fiscal year 2022 budget allocation in order to pay the eligible persons as an allowance for the elderly funeral expenses according to the traditional life style. This had been still under a consideration of Bureau of the Budget. Chonburi Provincial Social Development and Human Society Office had constantly expressed the guideline in delivering the funeral expenses and published the pending list of payment through the office’s website and continually provided appropriate assistance. In order to immediately resolve this massive grievance, the Ombudsman had recommended the Prime Minister to command for speeder action of Bureau of the Budget regarding their consideration of allocating more budget to the Department of Older Persons during the fiscal year 2022 budget allocation. Therefore, the Secretariat of the Prime Minister had issued an urgent notification – Nor Ror 0403 (Kor Nor)/3447 dated 8 March 2022 – notifying that the Prime Minister had been informed by the Secretariat of the Prime Minister and commanded the Bureau of the Budget to report the consideration to the Ombudsman within 30 days and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Society to urgently proceeded for the Cabinet’s approval on reserve money in the case of emergency or necessity within the central budget according to the Prime Minister’s approval. On 15 March 2022, the Cabinet approved the allocation of reserve money in the case of emergency or necessity within the central budget for the fiscal year 2022 budget allocation. The amount of 172,356,000 baht is allotted to pay 57,455 persons – as listed by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Society – as an allowance for the elderly funeral expenses according to the traditional life style which were pending in the fiscal year 2021. Chonburi Provincial Social Development and Human Society Office had completely proceeded the payment for all complainants and other effected persons.

In a follow-up meeting with Education Department, the Provincial Ombudsman Sindh stated that countries that invest well in girls’ education have lower maternal and infant mortality rate, low rate of HIV /AIDS and better childhood nutrition. He added that there is a need to assess the performance of schools and quality of education through developing a system for reviewing the achievements of the schools by identifying the bench mark for assessment of their performance, and a mechanism for redressal of problems for sustained improvement. He suggested that Education Department in consultation with AAP Secretariat may consider this proposal in Phase-II of AAP or through alternative means of funding.

The Commissioner Against Corruption, Chan Tsz King, met with the President of the Supreme People’s Court, Zhang Jun, who is paying a visit to Macao, where they discussed and exchanged views on the work of integrity building.

Chan Tsz King welcomed Zhang Jun who led the delegation of the Supreme People’s Court to Macao. During the meeting, he introduced the personnel training matters and the latest development of the CCAC, including the implementation of the digital case management. Chan Tsz King hoped that exchanges and cooperation with the Supreme People’s Court in the law enforcement area relating to the combat of corruption can be further strengthened so as to jointly build a more impartial and fair society that upholds the rule of law for the country and the society. He also hoped that mutual legal assistance in criminal matters between the Chinese mainland and Macao can have a new achievement.

Zhang Jun stated that under “one country, two systems”, the economy and society of Macao have been developing well and achieving success, while upholding integrity in society is the CCAC’s duty. He introduced the implementation of the trial management system in the Chinese mainland and pointed out that trial management and integrity building are closely related to each other and therefore a strict internal supervision will safeguard integrity and judicial impartiality.

Those who attended the meeting included the President of the Court of Final Appeal, Sam Hou Fai, the Deputy Commissioners of the CCAC, Ao Ieong Seong and Lam In Sang, the Chief of the Cabinet of the Commissioner Against Corruption, Chan In Chio, the Vice President of the Supreme People’s Court, Deng Xiuming, the President of the Criminal Adjudication Tribunal No. 2 of the Supreme People’s Court, Wang Xiaodong, and the Director of Research Office of the Supreme People’s Court, Duan Nonggen, among others.

Strengthening international mutual assistance and cooperation for the prevention and fight against corruption

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Kim Hong-Il) will participate in the G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meeting, which is scheduled to be held on August 12 in Kolkata, India. ACRC will engage in discussions on promoting international cooperation in the prevention and fight against corruption and introduce Korea’s anti-corruption policies during the meeting.

The G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meeting is the second in a series following the initial meeting held in 2020*, which will be convened under the Indian Presidency.

* The first meeting (a virtual meeting) was convened under the G20 Presidency of Saudi Arabia in 2020, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG).

High-level officials from G20 member countries, invitee countries, such as Singapore and Mauritius, and international organizations, including UNODC and OECD, will be present at the meeting. ACRC Vice Chairperson and Secretary General Jeong Seung-Yoon will attend the meeting, representing Korea.

At the meeting, the G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meeting Outcome and Chair’s Summary will be adopted, emphasizing collaborative global efforts in combating corruption. Additionally, the G20 ACWG Accountability Report on Mutual Legal Assistance and the Compendium of Good Practices on enhancing the role of auditing in tackling corruption will be presented.

Vice Chairperson Jeong will deliver a speech emphasizing the need for international cooperation in the prevention and fight against corruption and introduce Korea’s efforts in international anti-corruption cooperation and major anti-corruption policies.

In addition, Vice Chairperson Jeong will have a bilateral meeting with Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, a competent anti-corruption authority of India, the G20 Presidency. The meeting aims to share anti-corruption policies implemented in respective countries and lay the foundation for mutual cooperation through international fora, such as the G20.

Furthermore, Vice Chairperson Jeong will have meetings with high-level officials from India’s anti-corruption agencies, including Lokpal of India and the Central Vigilance Commission.

ACRC Vice Chairperson and Secretary General Jeong Seung-Yoon said, “Corruption is a cross-border issue, and mutual assistance and international cooperation are essential to combat corruption. We are committed to further strengthening anti-corruption cooperation with the international community in solidarity.”

The Ombudsman, Ms Winnie Chiu, announced a full investigation report, namely “Department of Health’s Dissemination of Information of the Latest Quarantine and Testing Requirements for Foreign Domestic Helpers”.

Please click here for details.

• Board of Directors and the General Assemblymeet at Kazan (Republic of Tatarstan)
• Wafaqi Mohtasib addresses International Ombudsman Conference at Kazan

Wafaqi Mohtasib Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi was re-elected unopposed as President of the Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA) at Kazan (Republic of Tatarstan) on 11 September 2023. The elections to the various positions in the AOA Board of Directors were held at the 17^th Meeting of the General Assembly.  In addition to the election of Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi as President of AOA, the General Assembly elected Heads of Ombudsman Institutions in Azerbaijan, Hong Kong and Iran as Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Association respectively.Heads of Ombudsman Institutions in China, Japan, Korea, Tatarstan and Turkiye were elected as members of the Board of Directors.

The Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA) is a major non-political, independent and professional body of international character representing more than two thirds of the world population. Its current membership is 47 ombudsman institutions from the Asian Region. The Association’s permanent secretariat is hosted by the Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat at Islamabad. The Association was established following the First Asian Ombudsman Conference held on 15-16 April 1996 at Islamabad.Following his election, Mr. Qureshi thanked the General Assembly for expressing confidence and trust in Pakistan’s contribution in promoting the cause of ombudsmanship and the ultimate goals of good governance and the rule of law in Asia and beyond.

The General Assembly meeting was followed by an International Conference on the “Effective Practices of Ombudsman: National Features and Universal Approaches” which was attended by a large number of international delegations and representatives of international bodies, academia and the civil society. In his address to the Conference, Mr. Qureshi highlighted the centrality of ombudsmanship as an effective mechanism for promoting the rule of law, good governance, justice and fair play in the daily life of a common man. He added that the ombudsman institutions constitute a universal fraternity that makes a strong case for grater interaction and mutual cooperation in pursuit of their common goals and aspirations.

Wafaqi Mohtasib Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi stated that the ombudsmanship has taken firm roots in Pakistan. The Office of Federal Ombudsman was established on 24 January 1983 and the concept has been replicated in other areas of governance including banking, insurance, taxation and harassment of woman at workplace. Wafaqi Mohtasib Institution over the last forty years has established its credentials as an effective instrument for providing speedy and inexpensive administrative justice to the people against any acts of maladministration by the Federal agencies. He added that over 1.8 million households have benefited from the services of this institution since its inception. The number of complaints handled last year was 164,173 while during the first eight months of the current year, the total receipts has touched the figure of 123,519 and is projected to reach 185,533 by the end of the year. Mr. Qureshi further stated that the objectives and purposes of the establishment of the ombudsman institution have a direct bearing on the realization of the overall goals of the promotion and protection of fundamental rights and good governance in all spheres of life. He assured the international partners that Pakistan remained ready to share its experiences and best practices in promoting professionalism in the work of the ombudsman institutions for the benefit of the Asian regional fraternity.

The person deprived of liberty asked for the support of the Human Rights Defender in order to organize a medical treatment, specifically heart stenting prescribed by the doctor. In accordance with the addressed complaint, the citizen has a disability of the second group and cardiac-related health issues. The medical service of the penitentiary institution is delaying to organize the indicated surgery for the purpose of treatment, which has led to a deterioration of the health condition.

Regarding the issue, the Human Rights Defender addressed letters to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia within the framework of the discussion procedure.

As a result, the person deprived of liberty was subjected to the necessary examination and stenting was performed.

On August 31, 2023, Public Defender Levan Ioseliani and Deputy Public Defender Tamar Gvaramadze participated in a meeting organized by the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) in Oslo.

New heads of the European National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) were introduced at the event and they were informed about the fundamental principles and effective functioning of the NHRIs.

At the meeting, which was held in the format of a round table discussion, the members of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions exchanged information about their experiences with the new representatives, and reviewed the NHRI standards and activities.

Upon the instruction of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, the National Preventive Group (NPG) members conducted the next visit within the framework of the National Preventive Mechanism activities.

During the visit, detention conditions and treatment issues, status of ensuring the rights of detainees in the pre-trial facility have been investigated, the cells, medical-sanitary unit, canteen, library, walking area of the facility have been inspected.

As part of the visit, the members of the NPG, including physician and psychologist specialists confidentially met with the detained persons in order to investigate the issues related to treatment.

Along with other detainees, an Armenian citizen R. Beglaryan, who was detained for illegal border crossing in the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border passing across Zabukh village of the Lachin district on August 1, 2023, was also received in confidential. The NPG members presented him legislative acts in his own language. During the interview it was found that the rights of this detained individual were ensured without any discrimination and medical-psychological care was provided as well. R. Beglaryan himself confirmed these issues in his appeal and expressed his gratitude.

In the course of the visit, the received persons were explained about the appeal mechanisms on their rights. Furthermore, they were given informational publications related to national legislative acts and international tools, as well as application ways to the Ombudsman’s Call Center 916.