Islamabad: July 28, 2025 – A group of Interns, currently undergoing training at the office of Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), visited the Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat here today and attended a briefing on its role and functions. Briefing the group, the Advisor, Wafaqi Mohtasib Office,
Mr. Shahid Humayun and Director General (Admn), Mr. Muhammad Safdar stated that owing to its persistent efforts, the institution of Wafaqi Mohtasib has emerged as the premier agency of administrative accountability in the country.

They said that it is encouraging to note that Ombudsmanship has taken firm roots in the country. Following the success of the Wafaqi Mohtasib’s institution in providing free and expeditious administrative justice to the people, the concept has been replicated in other areas like Banking, Insurance, Taxation and Protection of Women against Harassment at the Workplace, they added. They further informed that during the year 2024, the office received and processed a record number of public complaints totaling 226,373 out of which 223,198 were disposed of, showing an increase of 17% and 16% in the receipt and disposal of complaints respectively over the figures of 2023.

Later, the internees also visited the Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA), Secretariat, located in the premises of Wafaqi Mohtasib’s Office, wherein it was apprised of Pakistan’s pioneering role in the Ombuds fraternity. Speaking on the occasion, Senior Advisor and AOA’s Executive Secretary, Amb. (R) Abdul Moiz Bokhari said that the country enjoys a position of pre-eminence in the international Ombudsman community. He also alluded to the steps taken for strengthening international linkages of the institution, saying that it is an active member of the International Ombudsman Institution (IOI) and a founding member and current President of the Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA).

The group commended the excellent work being done by the Wafaqi Mohtasib Office in addressing complaints relating to maladministration and initiating steps for good governance in the country.

Chief Ombudsman Mr. Mehmet Akarca participated as a speaker in the session titled “Ensuring the Enforcement of Constitutional Rights through Ombudsmen and National Human Rights Institutions” at the International Ombudsman Symposium on “Strengthening the Rule of Law: The Role of Ombudsmen and National Human Rights Institutions” held in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 June 2025.

In his speech, he emphasized the Ombudsman Institution’s dual role: promoting citizens’ rights and guiding public institutions in line with principles such as the rule of law, democracy, and good administration and recalled the clear mission of Ombudspersons: Never to allow the rights, freedoms promised by constitutions to remain mere words on paper, but to ensure they become a living reality for every individual and that this is only possible through the presence of strong, independent and effective institutions. He also brought up the suffering endured by people due to the years-long unlawful occupation and human rights violations in Karabakh, and emphasized that today civilians including women and children are losing their lives on account of the ongoing attacks against Iran and the genocide in Gaza, underscoring the urgent need for these atrocities to come to an end. Referring to grave human rights violations in Gaza, Chief Ombudsman stated that the Ombudsman Institution of Türkiye had embraced the mission of documenting this historical tragedy and bringing it to the international agenda, noting that, in this context, the Institution had published a special academic edition titled “Ombudsman Academic Gaza Special Issue” with contributions from over 130 respected scholars, and had also released a comprehensive report prepared by the experts of the Institution, which clearly exposes the serious human rights violations in Gaza.

Mr. Akarca stressed that internal conflicts, wars, forced migrations, issues arising from climate change and digitalization are matters that constantly remain on the agenda of the Ombudsman Institutions since they constantly threaten human rights and therefore keep increasing and complicating the duties and responsibilities of Ombudspersons every day.

As part of the conference, Chief Ombudsman Mr. Mehmet Akarca and the ombudspersons from various countries present in Azerbaijan paid a visit to Ms. Sahiba Gafarova, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan.

Also, as part of his official program in Azerbaijan, Chief Ombudsman paid a visit to the Prosecutor General Mr. Kamran Aliyev and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Inam Karimov and Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Azerbaijan Prof. Dr. Birol Akgün.

Mr. Akarca was presented with the special state award, the “100th Anniversary Jubilee Medal of the Azerbaijani Prosecution Service” by Mr. Kamran Aliyev for his contributions to strengthening legal cooperation between the two countries, fostering solidarity between institutions and advancing the field of human rights.

The ACRC provided a mediation plan to develop the stormwater detention facility under construction in the Yangju Hoecheon District Housing Site Development Project into a waterfront park featuring an ecological learning center, sports facilities, and walking trails.

The collective civil complaints filed by residents of the Yunjung Apartment Complex, who had expressed concerns about potential damage from the stormwater detention facility*being constructed in the Yangju Hoecheon District to prevent damage from torrential rains, are expected to be resolved through mediation by the ACRC (Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan).

  * Storm water detention facility: A facility designed to temporarily store rainwater during torrential rains and discharge it once the water level of the adjacent river recedes.

The ACRC convened an on-site coordination meeting on the afternoon of June 12 at the Yangju Project Headquarters of LH Corporation, attended by representatives of LH Corporation, Yangju-si of Gyeonggi-do Province, the applicants, complainants, and residents, and reached a final agreement on resolving the collective civil complaints requesting improvement measures for the stormwater detention facility.

The Yunjung Apartment Complex, first occupied in October 2002, was excluded from the Yangju Hoecheon District Housing Site Development Project in December 2006. In early 2024, when LH Corporation planned to build a storm water detention facility adjacent to the Yunjung apartment complex, residents raised concerns about construction-related noise, structural cracks, and the potential for river water to infiltrate the underground parking lot. They requested relocating the facility further away from the apartment and covering it with a structural enclosure to conceal it from view. However, when no agreement was reached, they filed collective civil complaints with the ACRC in June 2024.

Despite prolonged discussions among the ACRC, LH Corporation, Yangju-si, and complainants, no consensus had been reached. Eventually, the ACRC proposed developing the storm water detention facility as a waterfront park. This alternative was accepted by the relevant agencies and the complainants, which ultimately enabled the development of the final mediation plan.

Under this plan, LH Corporation agreed to construct the storm water detention facility 23 meters away from the Yunjung Apartment Complex and establish an ecological learning center, sports facilities, and walking trails accessible to its residents.

Yangju-si agreed to regularly monitor the facility’s construction process and continuously manage and maintain the ecological learning center and sports facilities after completion.

The ACRC Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan stated, “This mediation holds great significance as it successfully resolved collective civil complaints by transforming residents’ negative perceptions of the storm water detention facility into positive ones through the alternative of developing it as a waterfront park.” He further urged the relevant agencies to do their utmost to swiftly implement the measures agreed upon during the June 12 mediation so that the residents’ grievances could be ly resolved.

The Ombudsman, Mr. Jack Chan, presented the 2024-25 Annual Report of The Ombudsman to the public. The Office exceeded all its service targets in handling enquiries, complaints, reassessment and review of complaints in the reporting year.

Mr. Chan said, “Since assuming office on 1 April last year, I have championed three strategic focuses: (1) enhancing mediation to effectively and swiftly resolve public complaints; (2) fostering interdepartmental collaboration to provide highly efficient and quality public services; and (3) cultivating a positive and proactive complaint culture within the community. These three initiatives are designed to improve the quality of public administration, deliver tangible benefits to our citizens, and encourage the Government and citizens to foster a more stable, harmonious and progressive society for all.”

In the reporting year, the Office concluded an all-time high of 555 cases by mediation, nearly tripling the number of the previous year and accounting for 33.5 per cent of the cases pursued. Given that the average time taken to resolve a complaint by way of mediation was only 10.87 days, it significantly expedited the process of redressing grievances for the public.

On the front of fostering interdepartmental collaboration, the Office completed three direct investigation operations and processed 141 complaint cases during the year in this connection.

The Office has stepped up efforts to cultivate a positive complaint culture. In addition to the annual Ombudsman’s Awards Scheme, the Office issued 41 appreciation letters to 16 departments and organisations, and presented 19 appreciation certificates to complainants during the year, recognising their contribution to the enhancement of public administration. For the first time, the Office hosted seminars for universities and tertiary institutes, with a total of 13 seminars held at tertiary and secondary institutes throughout the year to promote a positive complaint culture. The Office is in active preparation for establishing the Hong Kong International Ombudsman Academy to provide appropriate training for government departments and public organisations, enhance the professional capabilities of staff of the Office, and promote exchanges and co-operation between the Office and overseas ombudsman institutions.

The Office completed eight direct investigation operations and 40 full investigations during the year, delivering a total of 254 recommendations, 37 per cent more compared to that of the previous year, for improvement of public administration. All the recommendations were accepted by the government departments or organisations concerned, including some having been pursued and implemented. From November 2024 onwards, the Office started making observations in cases concluded after inquiries to highlight the improvements that had been or could be put in place more speedily. As at 31 March 2025, 106 observations had been made and were well received by the government departments or public organisations concerned.

In the reporting year, the Office received 4,402 complaints on various topics and completed 4,664 cases (including some carried over from the preceding year), of which 3,009 were assessed and closed and 1,655 pursued and concluded.

• Wafaqi Mohtasib opens AOA webinar on the shared principles of ombudsmanship and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

• Ombudsman institutions play key role in achieving the international development goals and targets – Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi.

Islamabad: 14 July, 2025 – Wafaqi Mohtasib, Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, has said that the ombudsmanship and the UN Sustainable Development Goals pursue shared principles and purposes which together constitute the agenda for global action. He was inaugurating a webinar organized by the Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA) in cooperation with the Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat at Islamabad today. Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi is the current President of the Asian Ombudsman Association which is a 47-member strong non-political, professional body of ombudsman institutions in the Asian region.

Addressing the participants, Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi said that the ombudsman institutions play a critical role in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He added that the efficient delivery of public services, respect for the rule of law, promotion and protection of human rights remain fundamental to the principles and purposes of ombudsmanship and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi further added that the mandate of the Wafaqi Mohtasib’s institution is not limited to redressal of grievances alone, but also provides for ascertaining the root causes of maladministration, bad governance, arbitrary and discriminatory practices in public administration at all levels. He said that so far, 80 studies have been conducted which led to long term reforms and fixed the systemic issues faced by the general public. Inspection visits of public agencies against whom frequent complaints are received has greatly contributed towards identifying the shortcomings and developing a culture of fairness, equality and professional propriety, he added.

Dr. Ashfaque Hasan Khan, Director General, National Institute of Policy Studies at the National University of Science & Technology (NUST), Islamabad in his keynote address, stated that the people are the ultimate stakeholders in all development efforts including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He emphasized the need for stepping up cooperation between the ombudsman institutions and the UN Agencies for realizing the core values of the two programmes.

The Webinar was attended by over one hundred participants representing Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA), OIC Ombudsman Association (OICOA), the Forum of Pakistan Ombudsman (FPO), academia and members of civil society at home and abroad.

This appeal was immediately taken under control by the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsman).

On the same day, staff of the Ombudsman’s Secretariat, the Regional Representative in the Tashkent region, and members of the Public Group under the Ombudsman visited the facility to investigate the issues raised, and conducted private interviews with the inmates.

Additional information on the findings of the monitoring and actions taken by the Ombudsman will be provided in due course.

Dili, 6 June 2025 – The Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice of Timor-Leste, Virgílio da Silva Guterres “Lamukan”, participated as a speaker in the political dialogue session of the 15th Ministerial Meeting between Portuguese-Speaking African Countries and Timor-Leste (PALOP-TL) and the European Union, held in Dili under the central theme “Justice and the Rule of Law.” The session was officially opened by Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and was attended by delegations from the PALOP-TL countries, representatives of the European Union, members of parliament, government officials, and other relevant entities.

In his remarks, the Ombudsman began with a quote from Samora Machel, reflecting the essence of public service and the spirit of sacrifice: “Our duty is to give everything to the people, to be the last when it comes to benefits, and the first when it comes to sacrifice. That is what it means to serve the people.” For the Ombudsman, this quote is directly linked to the spirit of responsibility and dedication that should guide discussions on justice and the rule of law. Virgílio Guterres emphasized that speaking of a democratic rule of law is to speak of the guarantee of citizens’ freedoms, the promotion of equality, and the realization of justice. Referring to the role of the Ombudsman institution, he noted that its mission is to ensure respect for fundamental rights and promote good governance, serving as an important mechanism for strengthening the rule of law in Timor-Leste.

During his presentation, the Ombudsman reflected on the need for judicial reform and its impact on political stability and investment attraction. In this context, he posed a critical question: if we are to reflect on or discuss a potential reform of the justice system, we must ask whether the current justice system is effectively meeting the needs of political stability and providing a favorable environment for investment. If not, then perhaps it is time to seriously consider reform.

Quoting Article 1 of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, which defines the country as a democratic rule of law based on the popular will and respect for human dignity, the Ombudsman argued that all public policies, including justice sector reform, must be guided by the public good. He emphasized that courts must be independent and free from external interference or political pressure, and that reform should not compromise that independence, but rather reinforce it as a foundation for delivering justice to the people.

Guterres also praised the IX Constitutional Government for putting forward proposals for judicial reform, noting that many recommendations have already been made and that it is essential to ensure the reform process strengthens legal certainty and public trust. He further underscored the importance of regional cooperation in the justice sector, highlighting the role of the PALOP-TL platform as a space for mutual support among Portuguese-speaking countries in their shared effort to ensure justice for their populations.

The Ombudsman stressed that judicial reform must not be merely technical but rooted in democratic and constitutional values. It should contribute to reducing social conflicts, promoting a culture of voluntary compliance with the law, and ensuring an environment conducive to foreign investment.

In closing, Guterres addressed the link between justice, human rights, and business activity, referring to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. These principles assign states the duty to protect human rights through effective grievance and remedy mechanisms, while companies have the responsibility to respect fundamental rights, ensuring that business activities incorporate social responsibility and avoid negative impacts. He concluded by affirming that the promotion of human rights must always be at the heart of any institutional reform process, especially in the justice sector.

The Ombudsman of Azerbaijan hosted the International Symposium of Ombudsmen on “Strengthening the Rule of Law: The Role of Ombudsmen and National Human Rights Institutions,” in Baku. The event was dedicated to the “Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty” and the Human Rights Day in Azerbaijan, which is marked on June 18.

The event had brought together heads and representatives of ombuds institutions and NHRIs from around 15 countries, high-level state officials, parliamentarians, representatives of international organizations and CSOs, as well as experienced human rights experts. During this event, Farid Ahmadov, Minister of Justice, delivered a greeting message from His Excellency, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, to the symposium’ participants.

In her opening speech, the Ombudsman, Sabina Aliyeva, conveyed her deep gratitude to the country’s President, for his greeting message.

The Ombudsman expressed optimism that this meeting, dedicated to such an important issue, would foster fruitful discussions on human rights protection and evaluation of potential future developments.

1. Aliyeva highlighted the need for enhanced cooperation in human rights due to globalization, armed conflicts, and the crucial role of ombudsmen and NHRIs in ensuring rule of law.

The Ombudsman reported that Azerbaijan, under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, has successfully liberated its occupied territories and restored its internationally recognized sovereignty. The humanitarian consequences of Armenia’s occupation and ethnic cleansing continue to impact Azerbaijan, with landmine issues posing threats to safety, preventing former IDPs’ return, hindering reconstruction, and contributing to environmental imbalance.

1. Aliyeva also emphasized that the improvement of legislation in line with modern challenges, the effective organization of supervision over the implementation of normative legal acts, and the cooperation between ombudsmen and NHRIs with judicial bodies make a significant contribution to ensuring the rule of law. She spoke about the good practices in this area.

Farhad Abdullayev, Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan, stressed that safeguarding fundamental rights and the rule of law is key to the stable development of state and society. He also underscored the need for strong inter-institutional cooperation.

He highlighted the cooperation between the Court and the Ombudsman Institution, noting that mutual relations and experience-sharing play a vital role in protecting human rights.

In his speech, Ali Ahmadov, First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, stated that Azerbaijan considers human rights protection a top priority, which has enabled ombuds and human rights institutions to operate on these core values.

Ali Ahmadov noted that organizing this significant event within the framework of the “Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty” is both well-founded and closely aligned with its purpose.

The conference participants received video messages from Ms. Amina Bouayach, Chair of GANHRI, and Ms. Luise Holck, Chair of ENNHRI.

The Symposium featured panel sessions on the role of ombudsmen and NHRIs in ensuring constitutional rights, promoting equal rights for all—best practices and challenges—and enhancing international cooperation in protecting refugees’ rights. The sessions included presentations and in-depth discussions, along with extensive dialogue on current challenges and future cooperation prospects.

At the conclusion of the event, the Declaration of the International Symposium of Ombudsmen was officially presented and adopted.

The Ombudsman of Azerbaijan hosted the International Symposium of Ombudsmen on “Strengthening the Rule of Law: The Role of Ombudsmen and National Human Rights Institutions,” in Baku. The event was dedicated to the “Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty” and the Human Rights Day in Azerbaijan, which is marked on June 18.

The event had brought together heads and representatives of ombuds institutions and NHRIs from around 15 countries, high-level state officials, parliamentarians, representatives of international organizations and CSOs, as well as experienced human rights experts. During this event, Farid Ahmadov, Minister of Justice, delivered a greeting message from His Excellency, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, to the symposium’ participants.

In her opening speech, the Ombudsman, Sabina Aliyeva, conveyed her deep gratitude to the country’s President, for his greeting message.

The Ombudsman expressed optimism that this meeting, dedicated to such an important issue, would foster fruitful discussions on human rights protection and evaluation of potential future developments.

1. Aliyeva highlighted the need for enhanced cooperation in human rights due to globalization, armed conflicts, and the crucial role of ombudsmen and NHRIs in ensuring rule of law.

The Ombudsman reported that Azerbaijan, under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, has successfully liberated its occupied territories and restored its internationally recognized sovereignty. The humanitarian consequences of Armenia’s occupation and ethnic cleansing continue to impact Azerbaijan, with landmine issues posing threats to safety, preventing former IDPs’ return, hindering reconstruction, and contributing to environmental imbalance.

1. Aliyeva also emphasized that the improvement of legislation in line with modern challenges, the effective organization of supervision over the implementation of normative legal acts, and the cooperation between ombudsmen and NHRIs with judicial bodies make a significant contribution to ensuring the rule of law. She spoke about the good practices in this area.

Farhad Abdullayev, Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan, stressed that safeguarding fundamental rights and the rule of law is key to the stable development of state and society. He also underscored the need for strong inter-institutional cooperation.

He highlighted the cooperation between the Court and the Ombudsman Institution, noting that mutual relations and experience-sharing play a vital role in protecting human rights.

In his speech, Ali Ahmadov, First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, stated that Azerbaijan considers human rights protection a top priority, which has enabled ombuds and human rights institutions to operate on these core values.

Ali Ahmadov noted that organizing this significant event within the framework of the “Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty” is both well-founded and closely aligned with its purpose.

The conference participants received video messages from Ms. Amina Bouayach, Chair of GANHRI, and Ms. Luise Holck, Chair of ENNHRI.

The Symposium featured panel sessions on the role of ombudsmen and NHRIs in ensuring constitutional rights, promoting equal rights for all—best practices and challenges—and enhancing international cooperation in protecting refugees’ rights. The sessions included presentations and in-depth discussions, along with extensive dialogue on current challenges and future cooperation prospects.

At the conclusion of the event, the Declaration of the International Symposium of Ombudsmen was officially presented and adopted.

On 13-14 May 2025, Chief Ombudsman and President of OICOA, Mr. Mehmet Akarca, paid a visit to Tehran to attend 4^th General Assembly and 12^th Board of Directors Meeting of the OICOA which were hosted by the General Inspection Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In the opening ceremony of the program, Mr. Akarca emphasized that OICOA strives to strengthen cooperation among Islamic countries and contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights. He also highlighted the organization’s efforts to raise global awareness about human rights violations against Muslims, particularly in the context of combating Islamophobia, and its aim to help prevent such violations. Mr. Akarca also drew attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stating that the Palestinian people must be able to live in peace and prosperity, in a manner that upholds human dignity, on their own land.

During the meetings, an exchange of views was held, and decisions were made on topics such as strengthening the OICOA, contributing to the protection of human rights in Islamic countries, and enhancing the capacities of the member institutions of the Association.

As part of his working visit to Tehran, Chief Ombudsman Mr. Mehmet Akarca, along with the Board Members of the OICOA, visited the General Inspection Organization of Iran to learn about the institution’s activities and how they utilize technology and AI in their work.