92nd E-News Letter of Asian Ombudsman Association April 2025
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PAKISTAN FEDERAL OMBUDSMAN ADDRESSES SENIOR JOURNALISTS.Islamabad: 8 April, 2025 – The outgoing year 2024 has been very eventful and productive for the Institution of Federal Ombudsman as it witnessed resolution of the record number of 223,198 complaints, out of the total 226, 372 it received. It showed an increase of 17% and 16% in receipt and disposal of complaints respectively over the figures of 2023. |
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HONG KONG OMBUDSMAN PROBES HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT’S WORK ON REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC ROADS.The Ombudsman, Mr. Jack Chan, today (11 April) announced the launch of a direct investigation operation to examine the work of the Highways Department (“HyD”) on the repair and maintenance of public roads, in particular the prevention of serious road subsidence incidents. As the authority responsible for the repair and maintenance of public roads, HyD engages contractors to carry out regular inspections and maintenance works to keep roads in safe and serviceable condition to ensure the safety of road users. |
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REPUBLIC OF KOREA “INCREASE IN CPI LEADS TO RISE IN GDP PER CAPITA” INTEGRITY EDUCATION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO BE STRENGTHENED.The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan) announced plans to further strengthen integrity education for youths and university students in order to sustain the upward trend in Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which reached its highest level last year. |
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PAKISTAN FEDERAL OMBUDSMAN INAUGURATES REGIONAL OFFICE AT SAHIWAL.Sahiwal: 10 April, 2025 – The Wafaqi Mohtasib (Federal Ombudsman), Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi has asked the heads of the Federal Agencies to ensure speedy resolution of public complaints and provide prompt relief to the people. He was inaugurating the institution’s Regional Office at Sahiwal here today. |
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HONG KONG OMBUDSMAN ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF DIRECT INVESTIGATION OPERATION INTO GOVERNMENT’S REGULATION OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.The Ombudsman, Mr. Jack Chan, today (16 April) announced the completion of a direct investigation operation into the Government’s regulation of occupational safety and health (“OSH”) in the construction industry, with 40 major recommendations for improvement made to the Labour Department (“LD”), the Buildings Department (“BD”) and the Development Bureau (“DEVB”). |
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REPUBLIC OF KOREA ACRC OPERATES EMERGENCY GRIEVANCE COUNSELING SERVICE FOR VICTIMS OF GYEONGSANGBUK-DO WILDFIRES.The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan) visits Uiseong Sports Complex evacuation shelter from the 27th to 29th to listen to the grievance of people suffering from damages of wildfire and to quickly support recovery. |
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THAILAND THE OMBUDSMAN CONDUCTED FACT-FINDING INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE REQUEST FOR THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING, THE SLOWDOWN SIGN, AND THE FIRE HYDRANT IN A VILLAGE IN THE AREA OF NONGKHAEM DISTRICT OFFICE, BANGKOK.The Office of the Ombudsman received the complaint from residents of a village in Nongkhaem District, Bangkok, alleged that the Nongkhaem District Office has failed to provide essential safety measures, including the pedestrian crossing, the slowdown signs, and the fire hydrant in front of their village. |
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AZERBAIJAN THE OMBUDSMAN PRESENTED THE 2024 REPORT TO THE PARLIAMENT.The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, presented the 2024 Report on the Protection of Human Rights in Azerbaijan to the Parliament on March 7, 2025. Prior to the presentation, the Ombudsman and staff members visited the grave of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, paying deep respects to his dearest memory. |
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PHILIPPINES OMBUDSMAN OPENS ASSISTANCE CENTER IN CALBAYOG CITY.In its bid to bring frontline services closer to the Eastern Visayas region, the Office of the Ombudsman inaugurated its sixth Ombudsman Assistance Center (OAC) at the Calbayog City Police Station, Terminal Site, Barangay Bagacay, Calbayog City, Samar. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by Deputy Ombudsman Jose Balmeo, Jr. together with Assistant Ombudsman Rex Sandoval, Director Gay Maggie Violan, consultant Atty. |
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REPUBLIC OF TATARSTAN MEETING HELD TO DISCUSS PROBLEMS FACED BY PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES SINCE CHILDHOOD.Our Office held a meeting dedicated to the problems faced by people with mental disabilities since childhood. The applicants expressed serious concerns about the availability and quality of medical services provided to their wards. Important issues were discussed regarding the procedure for making an appointment with a doctor, organizing consultations with specialists, as well as the difficulties encountered when needing to receive medical care. |
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THAILAND THE OMBUDSMAN ADDRESSES PUBLIC GRIEVANCE REGARDING PATIENT REFERRALS FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT IN MAIN HOSPITALS UNDER THE UNIVERSAL COVERAGE SCHEME (UCS).The “Gold Card” scheme, also known as “30-baht healthcare” scheme, is a healthcare policy that allows the public to access medical services free of charge by registering at their designated healthcare service unit under their entitlement. |
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UZBEKISTAN THE OMBUDSMAN MONITORES, CONDITIONS AT SEVERAL CLOSED INSTITUTIONS IN NAVOI REGION.On April 24, 2025, under the leadership of the Commissioner of Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman), members of the Public Groups operating within the framework of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) conducted monitoring visits to several penitentiary institutions in Navoi region. Representatives of the media also participated in the visits. |
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AZERBAIJAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER CONDUCTS MOINTORING OF THE FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC CENTER.By the instruction of Sabina Aliyeva, the Human Rights Commissioner, within the framework of activities of the Working Group on Mental Health and Human Rights, a monitoring was conducted in the Forensic Psychiatric Center of the Ministry of Health. |
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PHILIPPINES OMBUDSMAN OPENS ASSISTANCE CENTER IN ZAMBOANGA CITY.The Office of the Ombudsman inaugurated its fifth Ombudsman Assistance Center (OAC) today at the City Mall in Tetuan, Zamboanga City. The center is designed to provide responsive and streamlined frontline services, including assisting walk-in clients with the filing of complaints, submitting Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, and processing of Ombudsman clearances. |
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TIMOR LESTE PDHJ PARTICIPATES IN SEANF TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP MEETING IN JAKARTA.Jakarta, Indonesia, 23–24 April 2025 – The Provedoria dos Direitos Humanos e Justiça (PDHJ) of Timor-Leste joined representatives from across Southeast Asia for the First Technical Working Group Meeting of the South East Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF), held in Jakarta under the Chairmanship of Komnas HAM Indonesia. The meeting brought together all six SEANF member institutions: Komnas HAM (Indonesia), SUHAKAM (Malaysia), MNHRC (Myanmar), CHRP (Philippines), NHRCT (Thailand), and PDHJ (Timor-Leste). PDHJ was represented by Aureo José António Savio, Head of Cabinet, and Antoninho Bernardino, Media and Public Relations Specialist. |
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GEORGIA PUBLIC DEFENDER’S STATEMENT ON WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY.In accordance with the resolution of the UN General Assembly, Autism Awareness Day is celebrated worldwide on April 2. 17 years after the establishment of this day, its significance has expanded further and, along with raising awareness, includes the inclusion of people with autism in public life, their respect, and recognition of the contribution they made to the development of the community and the world. The main theme of 2025 is “Advancing Neurodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” which draws attention to the importance of aligning efforts for neurodiversity and global sustainability. People with autism continue to face obstacles in the process of exercising their rights and freedoms in Georgia. The issue of introducing services that promote and support independent living, tailored to the individual needs of these individuals, is acute. |
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REPUBLIC OF TATARSTAN APPEAL RESOLVED FOR DELAY IN ISSUING A REFFERAL FOR MEDICAL AND SOCIAL EXAMINATION.The Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Tatarstan received an appeal from citizen T., a resident of the village of Blagovatnoye, Nizhnekamsk District. She contacted us in the interests of her mother, citizen R., born in 1957. According to the applicant, despite persistent visual impairment confirmed by an examination at the Prozrenie clinic in Nizhnekamsk, her mother had been unable to obtain a referral for a medical and social examination for a long time. All the necessary documents were provided to the local therapist, tests were taken, but the issue remained unresolved. |
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UZBEKISTAN THE OMBUDSMAN IN COOPERATION WITH MINISTRY OF PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL EDUCATION IMPLEMENTS “OMBUDSMAN HOUR” PROJECT.Since 2023, the Commissioner of Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman), in cooperation with the Ministry of Preschool and School Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan, has been implementing the “Ombudsman Hour” project across the country with the goal of increasing students’ legal awareness. To make the lessons non-traditional, creative, and engaging, the Ombudsman has prepared a series of video lessons. |
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TIMOR LESTE PDHJ AND KOMNAS HAM ADVANCE CROSS-BORDER HUMAN RIGHTS COOPERATION.Jakarta, 24 April 2025 – The Provedoria dos Direitos Humanos e Justiça (PDHJ) of Timor-Leste and the National Human Rights Commission of Indonesia (Komnas HAM) are taking concrete steps toward formalizing a bilateral cooperation agreement focused on enhancing human rights protections in the border areas between the two countries. |
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GEORGIA TRAINING FOR PUBLIC DEFENDER’S STAFF ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE.On April 24-25, 2025, training was held for the staff of the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia on the topic of sexual crimes, which covered issues of effective investigation of cases of sexual violence, criminal prosecution, trial and access to justice. |