On 8th November 2023, in a landmark event at the Royal Ambarrukmo Yogyakarta, the SEAOF Meeting brought together member institutions of the South East Asian Ombudsman Forum (SEAOF) and representatives from notable organizations. Invited participants included the Ombudsman of Hong Kong, Commonwealth Ombudsman, Public Complaints Bureau (PCB) Malaysia, and the National SDGs Secretariat of Indonesia.

The meeting, held with a firm commitment to serve as a regional platform for knowledge sharing, experiences, and best practices, aimed to foster collaboration within the Ombudsman community, both within and outside the Southeast Asian Region.

Distinguished representatives from each organisation took the opportunity to share insights into their complaint-handling mechanisms, case studies, areas of interest, and their organizational activities.

The Chief Ombudsman of Thailand stressed the importance of SEAOF focusing on cooperative activities that enhance the efficiency of Ombudsman work. He specifically highlighted the development of the fact-finding process and innovative tools resulting from Comparative Studies. Emphasizing adaptability, he suggested tailoring such knowledge to suit the specific working contexts of each organization.

A representative from the National SDGs Secretariat of Indonesia contributed by introducing the framework and essential processes for developing the Voluntary National Review (VNR) of the Republic of Indonesia. Encouraging Ombudsman institutions with mandates involving SDG Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), they urged active participation in suggesting government operations align with the goals and indicators of the SDGs.

Concluding the SEAOF Meeting and SEAOF+ Meeting, the Thai Ombudsmen, alongside SEAOF member institutions, issued a joint press statement. This declaration underscored their collective dedication to promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, with a primary goal of providing access to justice for all and benefiting the rights of citizens in each country.