On October 9-10, 2025, a working meeting was held between the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia, the Georgian Bar Association and the Legal Aid Bureau. The meeting was personally attended by Public Defender Levan Ioseliani, Chairman of the Bar Association Davit Asatiani and Director of the Legal Aid Bureau Davit Simonia.

The working meeting focused on the level of realization of the right to a fair trial, including the right to effective defence, in the country. The Public Defender’s Office presented the findings revealed in the process of supervising this right, the identified violations of the right and the recommendations developed by the Office to various agencies for the elimination of problems.

Significant attention was paid to the problem of neutral evidence in criminal cases, the scope of the obligation of non-disclosure, aspects of confidential and unrestricted communication between lawyers and defendants, the right of defence of persons detained on administrative charges, etc.

In turn, the lawyers shared with the Public Defender’s Office the challenges in their work practice and their visions for better realization of the right of defence.

The meeting emphasized the need for even closer future cooperation between the Public Defender’s Office and the Bar Association.

The working meeting was held within the framework of the EU project “Support to the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia” (DAI).

An opening ceremony for the new location of the Ombudsman’s North-West Regional Center was held at the Sheki “ASAN service” center.  

Prior to the ceremony, Azerbaijan’s Ombudsman, Sabina Aliyeva and Sheki’s Head of the Executive Authority, Elkhan Usubov, visited the memorial of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the Martyrs’ Alley to honor them.

During her opening remarks, the Ombudsman emphasized that for over two decades, the Ombudsman institution in Azerbaijan has played a key role in the protection of human rights and improvement of citizens satisfaction. She noted that relocating the regional center will allow for quicker response to complaints, and the introduction of digital solutions will enhance access to services.

Sabina Aliyeva mentioned that here, volunteers will support citizens throughout the reception process. She also highlighted that having the Northwest Regional Center located within the Sheki ASAN Service Center will make it easier for applicants to address documentation and other issues directly and efficiently on-site.

The Ombudsman highlighted that the ongoing efforts are aimed at enhancing the protection of human rights and freedoms in a more efficient manner.

Following the ceremony, attendees got familiarized with the Ombudsman’s Northwest Regional Center to observe the facilities and working environment.

Following the inauguration of the Northwest Regional Center, the Ombudsman held a reception for applicants in Sheki.

The Ombudsman personally met with 12 individuals, including veterans of the First and Second Karabakh Wars, as well as people with disabilities. Some issues were addressed immediately on the spot, while others requiring further investigation will remain under oversight. It was also noted that the relevant state bodies would be contacted to solve these matters in alignment with the laws.

At the meeting, citizens received legal advice, and they were informed that their appeals can be submitted not only in person but also through various channels, including the 24/7 “916” Call Center, email, postal service, fax, and social media to ensure faster and more effective processing of their complaints. In conclusion, the Ombudsman gave an interview with Azerbaijan Television Channel, where she briefed about the newly opened regional center and its main functions.

Concurrent with the 44th anniversary of the establishment of the General Inspection Organization, a public service desk was set up to address the concerns of worshippers at Gholhak Grand Mosque, attended by the President of the General Inspection Organization of Iran and the Organization’s Deputies for Economic and Production Affairs, following the Maghrib and Isha prayers.

According to the Public Relations Office of the General Inspection Organization of Iran, in line with the Chief Justice’s emphasis on direct communication between judicial officials and the public, and concurrent with the 44th anniversary of the Organization’s establishment, a service desk was held to handle the legal and judicial issues of worshippers at Gholhak Grand Mosque, attended by the President of the General Inspection Organization and the Organization’s Deputies for Economic and Production Affairs, after the Maghrib and Isha prayers.

Justice. Khodaeiyan, accompanied by the Organization’s Deputies for Economic and Production Affairs, personally listened to and reviewed the problems and requests of more than 50 visitors and worshippers in legal and judicial areas, as well as issues related to the functions of the General Inspection Organization.

It is noteworthy that simultaneously with the President of the General Inspection Organization’s meeting with the public at Gholhak Grand Mosque, the Organization’s deputies and directors were also present in various mosques across the capital to address public requests.

– ACRC held a field meeting with stakeholders from agriculture, livestock, and fisheries industries on Sept. 23 to review the impact of the increased cap on the value of agricultural, livestock, and fishery product gifts under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and to hear about challenges encountered by the industry.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan) held a field meeting on Sept. 23 at the Nonghyup Hanaro Mart in Yangjae, Seoul, with representatives from the agricultural, livestock, and fishery sectors, including the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (Nonghyup), National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives (Suhyup), and related organizations.

The meeting was organized to assess whether the increase* in the upper limit on the gift value for agricultural, livestock, and fishery products and their processed goods under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act (hereinafter referred to as the Graft Act), implemented two years ago, has had a tangible impact at the industry level. It also served as an opportunity to listen to the difficulties faced by the sector and explore ways to operate the Graft Act more reasonably in the future.

* In August 2023, the ACRC revised the Enforcement Decree of the Graft Act to support the agricultural, livestock, and fishery industries suffering from natural disasters, inflation, and sluggish consumption. The cap on the gift value for agricultural, livestock, and fishery products and their processed goods was increased from 100,000 won (200,000 won during Lunar New Year and Chuseok) to 150,000 won (300,000 won during Lunar New Year and Chuseok).

In addition, to boost consumption of agricultural, livestock, and fishery products and support socially vulnerable groups, Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan purchased rice, fish, and fruit at the Yangjae Hanaro Mart using funds voluntarily donated by ACRC employees. These goods will be delivered to young people preparing for self-reliance through the “WOO-IN” Residential Support Center for Youth preparing for independent living after leaving orphanages or group homes and for adaptation to life on their own at the age of 18.

ACRC Chairperson Ryu said, “It is encouraging that, amid the growing international interest in Korean culture, K-agriculture, livestock, and fishery products have become key export items,” adding that “We will carefully review the opinions raised during this field meeting and work to find ways to address the difficulties faced by the agricultural, livestock, and fishery industries, while upholding the purpose of the Graft Act to secure public trust in a clean public sector.” He also emphasized that, “The ACRC will continue to listen closely to voices from the field and take the lead in revitalizing livelihoods and cultivating a culture of integrity in the public sector.”

On October 15-16, 2025, the Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, and the First Deputy Public Defender, Tamar Gvaramadze, participated in the International Conference dedicated to the 30^th anniversary of the Parliamentary Ombudsman of Malta.

The conference, the topic of which was – “The role of ombudsmen in the realization of the right to good governance”, discussed measures to strengthen public trust in institutions and the importance of the ombudsman institution as a pillar of democracy; the importance of protecting the human rights of vulnerable groups, issues of strengthening the principles of integrity and good administration in order to develop ethical governance, and the role of the ombudsman in the era of digital and artificial intelligence. The Prime Minister of Malta addressed the guests at the event.

First Deputy Public Defender Tamar Gvaramadze presented a report at the conference and spoke about the role of ombudsman institutions in protecting the rights of vulnerable groups, highlighted the advantages and difficulties that institutions face in exercising various powers, and reviewed the activities, experience, and best practices of the Public Defender of Georgia in this regard.

On October 16, the General Assembly of the Association of Mediterranean Ombudsmen was also held, during which a number of decisions related to the governance of the Association were discussed and made. Inter alia, elections of the governing body of the Association were held, during which the Public Defnder of Georgia was elected the Second Vice President of the Association.

Within the framework of the visit, the guests were hosted by the Speaker of the Parliament of Malta and the President.

Dili, October 2025 – In a spirit of collaboration, the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ), the Anti-Corruption Commission (CAC), the Inspector General of State (IGE), and the Public Function Commission (CFP) joined forces in a Training of Trainers (ToT) under the Quadrilateral Agreement. The training focused on building knowledge and skills to strengthen good governance and human rights in Timor-Leste’s public institutions.

The training was facilitated by consultant Miguel Carvalho and focused on the “Revision of the Manual of Good Governance and Human Rights”, which was recently updated to reflect the current realities, challenges, and demands facing Timor-Leste. A total of 27 trainers from across the four institutions participated, preparing them to cascade the knowledge to civil servants and communities in their respective areas of work.

In his opening and closing remarks, Deputy Ombudsman for Good Governance, Rigoberto Monteiro, emphasized the importance of harmonizing the perceptions and approaches of the four institutions in applying principles of good governance. “This training is not only about strengthening knowledge, but also about ensuring coherence in how our institutions understand and apply the principles of good governance. If one principle is violated, it can have direct consequences for the protection of human rights. Therefore, it is essential that we understand the manual thoroughly, so we can deliver it effectively in our training sessions with public entities and the wider community,” he stated.

The revision of the manual and the implementation of the training were carried out with the support and cooperation of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), marking an important step in reinforcing the role of the Quadrilateral institutions in monitoring, fiscalizing, and guiding public entities towards more transparent, accountable, and rights-based governance.

On October 22, 2025, in Moscow, the 10th anniversary meeting of the Eurasian Alliance of Ombudsmen was held, dedicated to protecting the rights of people living in remote and rural areas.

The meeting was attended by the ombudspersons of Russia, Armenia, Bahrain, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Iran, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan. Representatives of Türkiye, Myanmar, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Oman, Turkmenistan, Iraq, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Lebanon also took part as observers and shared their practices.

Feruza Eshmatova, the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, delivered remarks highlighting the broad-ranging efforts underway in Uzbekistan to provide social support to citizens and safeguard their rights.

She noted that the “Obod Qishloq” (“Prosperous Village”) program, along with comprehensive measures to develop rural infrastructure, is helping support residents in remote areas and improve their living conditions.

It was also emphasized that the introduction of the “mahalla-based approach” enables problems to be identified on the ground and addressed with targeted solutions.

During the event, the Ombudsman pointed out that the “Ombudsman School” project—aimed at raising legal awareness, studying pressing issues raised in citizens’ appeals, and resolving them systematically—has become an open platform for dialogue with residents of remote regions.

For reference: The Eurasian Alliance of Ombudsmen was established in 2017. Its current members are the Russian Federation, Armenia, Bahrain, Iran, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Sri Lanka.

• WAFAQI MOHTASIB INSPECTION TEAM VISITS ISLAMABAD AIRPORT
• COMPLAINTS OF PASSENGERS ADDRESSED ON THE SPOT

Islamabad:  21 October, 2025 – Responding to growing number of complaints of maladministration and negligence against the officials of the FIA, ASF, ANF, Customs etc. posted at the Islamabad Airport, a Wafaqi Mohtasib Inspection Team visited the Airport today to look into such complaints and initiate urgent steps for their redressal.

Headed by the Advisor, Wafaqi Mohtasib Office, Maj. Gen. (R) Haroon Sikandar Pasha a 3-member Inspection Team went round the national and international lounges, luggage area, CIP lounge and the immigration and other counters of the airport to obtain first-hand knowledge of the passengers’ problems. It also interacted with the passengers present there, who complained about the indifferent and unhelpful attitude of the personnel posted at the airport.

Similarly, a large number of passengers, particularly those arriving from abroad complained about late delivery and loss of luggage saying that it was a very common occurrence at the airport. More so, they said that the airport authorities are non-cooperative and insensitive to their complaints.

The Team also directed that whenever there is a flight cancellation or change in schedule, the affected passengers must immediately be informed through phone calls or SMS to save them of unnecessary hassle. The Inspection Team further instructed that separate counter be established at the airport for the senior citizens, diplomats and parliamentarians in addition to those using wheel chairs. The Team instructed the airport authorities to increase the Facilitation Counters in proportion to increasing number of flights.

The Inspection Team also reviewed the progress made with regard to the recommendations given during the earlier visits of the Inspection Teams.

Later, the Inspection Team also visited the One Window Facilitation Desks (OWFDs) at the airport which is being manned by the personnel of 12 Federal Agencies and inquired about the nature of complaints mostly filed with them. It directed that the presence of officials may be ensured through biometric means and all possible facilities may be provided to the passengers particularly to the Overseas Pakistanis.

Ms. Nigar Aghayeva, Head of the Child Rights Protection Unit, and Ms. Ayten Tarverdiyeva, Head of the Unit on Protection of the Rights of PWDs in the Ombudsman Office of Azerbaijan, participated in the 29th European Network for Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) Annual Conference and General Assembly, held in Bucharest, Romania.  

The international event titled “Protecting and Promoting Children’s Right to Physical Health” had brought together ENOC member ombuds institutions and their representatives, relevant bodies, professionals in charge of child rights in international organizations, and experts.

While speaking at the event, Ms. Aghayeva provided information about the work done in the field of protection of children’s rights within the past years. She also shared best practices and recommendations that contributed to legislative improvement. Furthermore, it was reported about the establishment of a structural unit dealing with child rights, the Ombudsman’s competences regarding child rights protection empowered as a result of amendments to the Constitutional Law on the Ombudsman, as well as setting up an independent monitoring group to oversee the Convention on the Rights of the Child.   

Considering the abovementioned, the Ombudsman Institution of Azerbaijan, which was an associate member, has been accepted as a full member of ENOC at its 29th General Assembly, following a majority vote by member institutions. Thus, taking into account the developments above noted, the Institution was considered in compliance with the criteria set forth in Article 4 of the ENOC Statute.     

In the course of the meeting, discussions around the current and future action plans were held, and the ENOC Statement on “Protecting and Promoting Children’s Right to Physical Health” was approved. 

As part of the visit, the participants visited the “Barnahus” Center for children who are victims of violence in Bucharest city, where they got acquainted with the activities and practices of the Center. 

The International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) Asian Regional Meeting and International Conference 2025 were successfully held in Lahore, marking a historic milestone as Pakistan hosted this prestigious global gathering for the first time. Presided over by the Honourable Ombudsman Punjab and IOI Second Vice President, Ms. Ayesha Hamid, the event brought together esteemed Ombudsmen and delegates from Macao, Bahrain, Timor-Leste, Japan, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Austria, Gibraltar, Indonesia, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Papua New Guinea and Philippines.

The three-day event served as a dynamic platform to enhance institutional cooperation and reaffirm the critical role of Ombudsman institutions in safeguarding citizens’ rights and promoting good governance. The Opening Ceremony featured an address by Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan, who underscored the importance of transparency, citizens’ rights, and regional collaboration among Ombudsman institutions.

The Asian Regional Meeting was held in the first half of the day, during which Mr. Somsak Suwansujarit, Asian Regional President of the IOI and Chief Ombudsman of Thailand, provided a summary of the IOI Board of Directors meeting held in Rabat, Morocco, in May 2025. He also introduced the content of the resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (2024) on the role of Ombudsman and mediator institutions in promoting and protecting human rights, good governance, and the rule of law.

The International Conference was convened in the afternoon under the theme “Strengthening the Rule of Law through Ombudsman Institutions.” The theme was explored through two substantive sessions focusing on the accessibility of justice and accountability in governance, allowing participants to exchange experiences and best practices from across the globe.

Session I: “Making the Rule of Law Accessible: The Ombudsman as a Bridge between People and Government.”
Speakers included Mr. Aydin Safikhanli, Head of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan; Ms. Dzhamanbaeva Dzhamilia, Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic; Mr. Bobby Hamzar Rafinus, Vice Chairman of the Ombudsman of Indonesia; Mr. Daisuke Otsuki, Deputy Director-General from Japan; Ms. Fauzia Viqar, Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace, Pakistan; and Mr. Muhammad Abbas  Khan, Principal Policy Advisor – Donors Coordination and Development, Ombudsperson Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Session II: “Ensuring Accountability and Good Governance in Public Administration.”
Speakers included Mr. Vasco Lopez, Advisor, Macao Special Administrative Region China; Mr. Asif Mahmood Jah, Federal Tax Ombudsman of Pakistan; Mr. Virgilio Da Silva Guterres, Chief Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice, Timor-Leste; Mr. Mumtaz Ali Shah, Federal Insurance Ombudsman of Pakistan; and Mr. Richard Pagen, Chief Ombudsman of Papua New Guinea.

The conference concluded with closing remarks by Mr. Bernhard Achitz, Member of the Austrian Ombudsman Board and Secretary General of the IOI, who commended Pakistan’s exceptional hospitality and the outstanding arrangements made by the Office of the Ombudsman Punjab. He lauded the spirit of collaboration demonstrated throughout the proceedings and observed that the Lahore Conference had set a remarkable precedent in fostering global cooperation, strengthening institutional capacities, and advancing the Ombudsman mission of accountability, transparency, and service to citizens.

Beyond formal sessions, delegates experienced Lahore’s vibrant cultural and architectural heritage through visits to the Badshahi Mosque, Wazir Khan Mosque, Lahore Museum, Fakir Khana Museum, Bamba Collection, Wagha Border and Shahi Hammam. These excursions provided participants with an enriching cultural experience and a deeper appreciation of Lahore’s historic legacy, reinforcing cross-cultural understanding and camaraderie among international participants.