On September 18, 2025, the Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, visited small group homes and a shelter for mothers and children in the Shida Kartli region, met with children in state care and shelter beneficiaries, and received information about their living conditions.

During a conversation with representatives of the institutions, as well as social workers and a psychologist from the guardianship and care body, the Public Defender inquired about the situation in terms of protecting the rights of the child. Special attention was paid to the importance of taking into account the best interests of children, their relationship with their biological families, informal education, and preparation for independent living.

The Public Defender of Georgia continues to assess the rights of children in state care and shelter beneficiaries and emphasizes that, given the crucial role of their support services and each professional working with them, it is necessary to strengthen existing services, including preventive services, and introduce additional services, which is crucial for the protection and realization of their rights.

On 17–18 September 2025, an international seminar-training was organized in Tashkent for the staff of the Office of the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman), in cooperation with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and the Rule of Law Centre at the University of Helsinki.

The seminar focused on combating human trafficking, studying cases of violence against women, and fighting corruption. International expert — Deputy Chancellor of Justice of Finland Mikko Pumalainen — shared information on Finland’s legal practices and effective mechanisms, drawing on his many years of professional experience.

The seminar-training was held in the format of open dialogue and Q&A sessions. Participants discussed ways to further improve measures in both countries to counter human trafficking, prevent gender-based violence, and strengthen anti-corruption efforts.

The Ombudsman’s institution pays special attention to regularly enhancing the qualifications of its staff. By engaging international experts in training programs, employees enrich their knowledge and skills, mastering new methods and approaches for effective work in the field of human rights.

This event marked the fourth seminar organized in cooperation with Finland. Previous discussions addressed mechanisms for handling citizens’ appeals, the powers of the Chancellor of Justice and the Parliamentary Ombudsman, procedures for working with the public, as well as the risks of artificial intelligence and its regulation. In December 2024, Ombudsman staff also became acquainted with the activities of the Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman of Finland.

The organization of such seminars and trainings within the Ombudsman’s institution contributes to studying best practices in the protection of human rights and strengthening international cooperation.

For reference: Finland is considered one of the world’s leading countries in terms of the rule of law and the protection of human rights. According to the Transparency International ranking, Finland consistently occupies top positions in anti-corruption efforts. In 2024, it ranked 2nd among 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) with 88 points.

On September 4, 2025, the Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, arrived in Marneuli and met with employees of the Marneuli Social Services Center “Child, Family, Society” and beneficiaries’ family members at the Public Defender’s Kvemo Kartli Office.

The meeting discussed the problems at the day care center, including the challenges related to providing services in villages located far from the regional center, and the scarcity of financial resources, which, as a result, prevents the attraction of qualified personnel. Representatives of the beneficiaries expressed their desire to increase the working hours of the day care center.

During the conversation, special attention was paid to the existing stereotypical attitude and stigma towards persons with disabilities, the need to support them and raise awareness among the public, including family members and relatives of persons with disabilities.

The Public Defender of Georgia constantly monitors services for persons with disabilities, identifies problems and prepares recommendations for the relevant state agencies to solve the problems.

The Ombudsman Institution of Türkiye hosted South Korean delegation at its Istanbul Office on 3 September 2025. The delegation included Mr. Nam-Doo Kim, Director General of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (Ombudsman), as well as Directors General from the National Tax Service, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and the Land and Housing Corporation. The meeting featured a presentation on the mandate, activities, and sample decisions of the Institution and offered a valuable opportunity to enhance bilateral cooperation.

RAEOA, 4 September 2025 – The PDHJ Regional Delegation Office in Oecusse conducted a socialization activity with students and lecturers of the Dili Institute of Technology (DIT) Regional Oecusse campus. The session focused on raising awareness about the institution’s role in protecting human rights and promoting good governance. A total of 75 students participated, including 44 men and 31 women.

The activity was led by the Director of PDHJ Regional Delegation RAEOA, Bartolomeu Gonçalves, with the involvement of the Regional Police Commander of RAEOA, Assistant Superintendent Ângelo Quelo, and the President of Sub-KRAM Oecusse, Jeferino da Cruz Salu. Participants expressed satisfaction in joining the initiative, highlighting the importance of state institutions engaging with students to help prevent violations in communities and within public services.

Representing the Rector of DIT RAEOA, Vicente da Conceição expressed gratitude to PDHJ for selecting the university as a partner in disseminating information on human rights protection and good governance in Timor-Leste. He underlined the commitment to continue collaboration with PDHJ, noting that in past years similar sessions had already been carried out, and DIT will remain engaged in requesting PDHJ’s support to strengthen awareness among students.

Students from both DIT RAEOA and DIT Dili actively participated with enthusiasm, raising questions and sharing their perspectives on real challenges faced in Timor-Leste, particularly regarding the quality of public services that communities often experience as inefficient. They recommended that oversight institutions like PDHJ continue monitoring the delivery of public services in Oecusse to ensure they are fair, timely, and effective for all citizens.

On 23 September 2025, members of the delegation led by the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsman), as part of their official visit, familiarized themselves with the activities of the Danish National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). In Denmark, monitoring within the NPM is entrusted to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

In total, 13 institutions are subject to monitoring under the Danish NPM. At the outset, the Danish Ombudsman delivered a presentation to the delegation members on the system of independent and systematic oversight of human rights in closed institutions.

On the same day, members of the Uzbek delegation also visited the Western Prison of Copenhagen, built in 1895 and part of the city’s penitentiary system. The institution provided information on detention conditions, the education and medical services available, as well as measures aimed at rehabilitation and reintegration.

The Western Prison of Copenhagen is a large facility where persons under investigation are held. According to the information provided, the prison is designed for around 600 places, yet currently accommodates more inmates than its official capacity. Although the cells are designed for single occupancy, due to overcrowding, some cells house two detainees.

It was highlighted that detainees in the facility also have the right to work and are granted at least one hour of outdoor exercise daily.

In addition, prisoners are entitled to short-term visits of 1.5 hours once every two weeks.

Furthermore, in accordance with the Istanbul Rules, prisoners undergo a medical examination upon admission to the facility.

According to the Public Relations Office of the General Inspection Organization (GIO) of Iran, at the international seminar “Effective Ombudsmanship for People’s Livelihood”, held within the framework of the 18th General Assembly of the Asian Ombudsman Association, Dr. Khodaeiyan, President of the GIO, emphasized the fundamental role of public oversight in enhancing the quality of government services. He highlighted the direct link between “general public supervision” and “whistleblower protection” with transparency, accountability, and public trust.

In his speech, he underscored that the concepts of general oversight and whistleblower protection hold a central position in Iran’s legal and religious culture, analogous to Article 8 of the Constitution concerning the principle of “enjoining good and forbidding wrong”. He also noted that the international community, through anti-corruption conventions, obliges governments to protect whistleblowers and highlights the importance of secure reporting channels.

Dr. Khodaeiyan further outlined the existing legal framework in Iran, including Articles 8, 90, and 174 of the Constitution. He emphasized the effective role of the GIO as the official ombudsman institution in facilitating public complaints, ensuring prompt follow-up, and implementing legal reforms. He stated that oversight and legal measures in the country provide a powerful mechanism for creating a “cycle of transparency, accountability, and trust.”

He also referred to Iran’s advanced approach to whistleblower protection, including the enactment of the Whistleblower Protection Law in 2023, which provides safeguards such as identity confidentiality, prohibition of any retaliatory actions, and both material and moral incentives.

Additionally, he highlighted the launch of the “National Whistleblower Support System” as a secure platform for public reporting, which enables follow-up on the stages of investigation and quality control of reports.

In conclusion, Dr. Khodaeiyan invited the Asian Ombudsman Association to expand regional cooperation, proposing that the exchange of experiences regarding whistleblower protection, establishment of secure reporting channels, and creation of a shared knowledge base could represent a significant step forward in promoting transparency and good governance.

UNESCO proclaimed 28 September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information on November 17, 2015. In 2025, the world marks the 10th anniversary of this important occasion.

Under the Constitutional Law on the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, the Commissioner is responsible for monitoring how state authorities, municipalities, public legal entities, and their officials comply with the obligations set out in the Law on Access to Information.

In 2025, as Azerbaijan marks the 30th anniversary of its Constitution and the 150th anniversary of the national press, the Ombudsman Institution has issued a new booklet, “The Right of Media Entities and Journalists to Information,” ahead of this international day.

This must be noted that this right was enshrined in the Constitution and plays a vital role in the work of journalists and media outlets. The booklet aims to support media professionals in better understanding the Law on Access to Information, exercising this right effectively, improving their legal awareness, and fostering stronger cooperation between information holders and the media.

The booklet provides information on key topics, including the right of access to information, the responsibilities of information holders, procedures and deadlines for information requests, reasons for refusal, as well as how the Ombudsman reviews complaints about violations of this right and their authority to issue relevant protocols.

The Office of the Ombudsman Punjab continues to serve as a beacon of accessible justice, transparency,and public trust, providing effective redressal for grievances against maladministration in government departments. Through direct intervention, field outreach, and strong enforcement of citizens’ rights, the institution remains committed to empowering the underserved and protecting public interest.

Institutional Access Enhanced: Launch of the Outreach Van Campaign in South Punjab

In line with its mandate to extend the reach of administrative justice to underserved populations, the Office has operationalized the “Awami Khidmat Program | Outreach Van Campaign” across South Punjab. This initiative forms an integral part of the wider Sunwai Campaign, aimed at institutional accessibility and public empowerment.

Operating under the slogan “Aap ki Sunwai, Aap ke Sheher Mein”, the outreach van enables:

• On-site complaint registration
• Citizen guidance on complaint procedures (free of cost, without legal representation)
• Public awareness sessions across districts
• Promotion of institutional access via Helpline 1050, mobile application, and QR codes.

This initiative reflects the Office’s strategic intent to foster inclusive governance and ensure the availability of redress mechanisms at the grassroots level.

– The ACRC successfully concluded the 41st APEC Anti-Corruption and Transparency Experts Working Group (ACTWG) Plenary Meeting and the APEC High-Level Dialogue on Anti-Corruption Cooperation (AHDAC), held over three days from July 30 to August 1.

– The ACRC convened APEC’s first-ever High-Level Dialogue on Anti-Corruption Cooperation (AHDAC), bringing together ministerial- and vice-ministerial-level officials from member economies to share anti-corruption policies and discuss international cooperation.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan) announced the successful conclusion of the 41st APEC ACTWG Plenary Meeting and the APEC High-Level Dialogue on Anti-Corruption Cooperation (AHDAC), held at Songdo ConvensiA in Incheon, Republic of Korea, from July 30 to August 1.

APEC member economies reached a broad consensus on the need to strengthen anti-corruption policies across the Asia-Pacific and held in-depth discussions on practical cooperation measures to put that consensus into practice.

On July 31, the inaugural AHDAC brought together ministerial- and vice-ministerial-level officials from major member economies—including the Republic of Korea and Japan—as well as senior representatives of international organizations such as the World Bank (WB). Through their keynote addresses, speakers underscored the importance of collective efforts to prevent corruption.

The speakers stressed that effectively preventing corruption requires multi-stakeholder cooperation—not only between the public and private sectors, but also with civil society and academia—and that such collaboration is essential to building a fair and trusted society.

They further reaffirmed that joint efforts to prevent corruption are a prerequisite for achieving the sustainable growth and shared prosperity pursued by APEC.

Following the keynote session, two days of expert panel discussions featured lively exchanges among APEC member economies, international organizations, private enterprises, civil society, and academia, centered on three main agenda items: ▴ Cooperation to Fight Cross-Border Corruption (Session 1); ▴ Engaging with Private Sector to Enhance Integrity (Session 2); ▴ Cooperation on Anti-Corruption Education and Training (Session 3).

Session 1 focused on joint response measures to transnational corruption offenses, including cooperation on mutual legal assistance, asset recovery, and digital forensics. Session 2—with participation from the OECD, the World Bank, and private-sector experts, including Oracle—introduced integrity management strategies leveraging ESG* and AI, as well as approaches to strengthen public-private partnerships.

* ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance): an evaluation framework that assesses corporate value by considering not only financial performance but also social and environmental activities.

In Session 2, Min Sungsim, Director General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau at the ACRC, emphasized the need to broaden the response beyond traditional concepts of corruption, such as bribery, to include improper solicitation, conflicts of interest, and abuse of power, and presented diverse cases of public-private cooperation for effective implementation.

In Session 3 (August 1), participants shared innovative strategies for cooperation in the education sector, including cases of international cooperation on anti-corruption education, integrity education for future generations, and the development of content for integrity education.

As a panelist in Session 3, Kim Se-shin, Director of the ACRC’s Anti-Corruption Training Institute, emphasized that relying solely on legal and institutional measures is insufficient to address the increasingly diverse and complex manifestations of corruption; raising ethical awareness among public officials and the general public and strengthening integrity capabilities are among the most fundamental means of prevention. He also introduced a range of educational activities targeting future generations.

Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan stated, “With this High-Level Dialogue, the cooperation framework in the Asia-Pacific to combat and prevent corruption has been further strengthened. As Korea’s lead anti-corruption agency, the ACRC will continue to do its utmost to build a clean Korea that earns the trust of both the Korean public and the international community.”