96th E-News Letter of Asian Ombudsman Association August 2025
 |
PAKISTAN WOMEN LAWYERS DELEGATION VISITS FEDRAL OMBUDSMAN SECRETARIAT.Islamabad: 21 August, 2025 – A representative delegation from S&S Law Associates – Pakistan’s first All Women Law Firm headed by Ms. Sibah Farooq, Advocate visited the Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat here today as part of the latter’s civil society initiative. It was briefed in detail on the working of the various sections and departments of the Secretariat by their respective heads and also paid a courtesy call on the Wafaqi Mohtasib (Ombudsman), Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi. |
||||||||||||
 |
HONG KONG CHINA OMBUDSMAN ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF DIRECT INVESTIGATION OPERATION INTO HOUSING DEPARTMENT’S HANDLING OF AIR-CONDITIONER DRIPPING IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.The Ombudsman, Mr. Jack Chan, today (7 August) announced the completion of a direct investigation operation into the Housing Department (“HD”)’s handling of air-conditioner dripping in public housing estates, with 15 major recommendations for improvement made to HD. |
||||||||||||
 |
REPUBLIC OF KOREA “NO BORDERS IN PREVENTING CORRUPTION”…ACRC AND APEC SOUGHT ANTI-CORRUPTION COOPERATION.Ahead of the APEC Summit being held in Korea for the first time in 20 years, senior anti-corruption officials from APEC member economies gathered to discuss solutions to pressing global anti-corruption issues.The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan) held the 41st ACTWG Meeting and the APEC High-Level Dialogue on Anti-Corruption Cooperation (AHDAC) at Songdo Convensia in Incheon from July 30 to August 1. |
||||||||||||
 |
TATARSTAN THE COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS HOLDS JOINT BRIEFING WITH CHAIRMAN, CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION.The Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Tatarstan together with the Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Tatarstan, Andrei Kondratyev, held a joint briefing at the information center «Point of Choice». Discussed the protection of voters’ rights, access to polling stations and preparations for elections at all levels. |
||||||||||||
 |
PROVINCIAL OMBUDSMAN SINDH, PAKISTAN SZABIST STUDENTS HONOURED AS BRAND AMBASSADORS BY PROVINCIAL OMBUDSMAN SINDH.On 23rd July, 2025, a group of SZABIST students was honored with Brand Ambassador Certificates by Mr. Muhammad Sohail Rajput, Hon’ble Ombudsman (Mohtasib) Sindh in a special ceremony. The students informed that most of people, they interacted were not aware of the Ombudsman Institution and those who knew had no confidence on the working of the Institution. |
||||||||||||
 |
IRAN INSPECTOR GENERAL KHODAEIYAN CONGRATULATES JOURNALISTS ON THEIR SPECIAL DAY.The head of the General Inspection Organization of Iran (GIO), Dr. Khodaeiyan, extended his heartfelt congratulations to journalists and media professionals on the occasion of Journalist Day (7 August), recognized in Iran each year. |
||||||||||||
 |
AZERBAIJAN THE EXPERIENCES OF 109 PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED.The production and scientific-research experiences of those studying at the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan have ended. On the first day of the internship, the management officials of the institution met with the students and undergraduates, brought to their attention the general rules related to the experience in the Office of the Ombudsman, and talked about the projects implemented by the Office of the Ombudsman, which operates in cooperation with state institutions, civil society institutions, international organizations, including higher education institutions. |
||||||||||||
 |
PROVINCIAL OMBUDSMAN, KHYBER PAKTUNKHWA APPOINTMENT OF H,E. MUTAHER ZEB, AS PROVINCIAL OMBUDSMAN, KHYBER PAKTUNKHWA.Syed Jamal-Ud-Din Shah concluded his tenure as Provincial Mohtasib Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after completing a four-year term. On August 4, 2025, Mr. Mutaher Zeb officially assumed the office, with an oath administered by the Governor at a ceremony in the Governor’s House. In his address, he pledged to uphold justice, fairness, and transparency in public administration. |
||||||||||||
 |
UZBEKISTAN RIGHTS VIOLATED DUE TO IRRESPONSIBILITY: RESTORED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE OMBUDSMAN.The Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman) received appeals from citizens regarding certain officials who neglected their official duties. A resident of Fergana region, citizen S.Kh., after serving his sentence, applied to the Fergana district probation department to obtain information on his removal from probation control and the absence of restrictions on travelling abroad. |
||||||||||||
 |
HONG KONG CHINA OPENING CEREMONY AND SEMINAR OF THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL OMBUDSMAN ACADEMY ADVANCING GOOD GOVERNANCE THROUGH AN INTERACTIVE EXCHANGE PLATFORM.The opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Ombudsman Academy (“HKIOA”), along with a seminar themed “Nurturing a Positive Complaint Culture through Mediation”, was held at the Hong Kong Productivity Council today (25 August). |
||||||||||||
 |
REPUBLIC OF KOREA ACRC OPERATES ON-SITE GRIEVANCE COUNSELING SERVICE IN GYEONGSANGNAM-DO PROVINCE AFFECTED BY TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS.Grievance counseling windows will be set up near the rain-caused damaged region in order to solve the difficulties of residents affected by extreme heavy rains. The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan) plans to listen to the grievances on site, from residents suffering from torrential rains. |
||||||||||||
 |
Turkiye ACRC THE YOUTH VISIT THE OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTION.As part of the “Social Mediation” project supported by the Turkish National Agency and coordinated by the METU Alumni Association, on 6 August 2025, young participants visited the Ombudsman Institution. During the visit, Ombudsman Abdullah Cengiz Makas met with the youth and shared his insights on the role of the ombudsman in promoting public mediation, rule of law, justice and a culture of social reconciliation. |
||||||||||||
 |
TATARSTAN COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS REVIEWS WORK OF REHABILITATION UNITS FOR CONVICTS.Commissioner for Human Rights held a meeting on the work of rehabilitation units for convicts suffering from addiction to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. This is a very serious issue, both for the correctional system and for society as a whole.She discussed performance indicators of existing rehabilitation programmes and staffing. Considered the possibility of organizing a rehabilitation unit on the basis of another correctional colony. |
||||||||||||
 |
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN KHODAEIYAN: INSPECTIONS MUST BE FIELD-ORIENTED, TRANSPARENT AND EFFECTIVE.The head of the General Inspection Organization of Iran (GIO), Dr. Khodaeiyan, stressed the need for more precise and impactful inspections, emphasizing unannounced visits to executive and service agencies, monitoring the supply chain of essential goods, and addressing energy imbalances as top priorities. |
||||||||||||
 |
AZERBAIJAN VISITS WERE MADE TO THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH.On the instructions of Sabina Aliyeva, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Ombudsman), visits were made to the Clinical Psychiatric Hospital No. 2 of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Baku Drug Center within the framework of the National Preventive Mechanism mandate and the activities of the Working Group in the field of “Mental health and human rights” under the Ombudsman. |
||||||||||||
 |
UZBEKISTAN MECHANISMS TO COMBAT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN SOCIAL NETWORKS.On 11 August 2025, at the initiative of the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman), and in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Office in Uzbekistan, and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, a two-day seminar on “Mechanisms to Combat Violence Against Women and Children in Social Networks” commenced. |
||||||||||||
 |
PROVINCIAL OMBUDSMAN SINDH, PAKISTAN OMBUDSMAN SINDH SETS REGIONAL BENCHMARK IN PUBLIC OUTREACH, COMPLAINT RESOLUTION, AND HUMANITARIAN COLLABORATION.The Office of the Provincial Ombudsman Sindh, in partnership with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Sindh, hosted a high-impact awareness seminar on 24th July 2025 aimed at enhancing citizen engagement, improving access to justice, and fostering collaborative humanitarian action. |
||||||||||||
 |
PAKISTAN WAFAQI MOHTASIB’S INSPECTION TEAM VISITS BISP.Islamabad: 08 August, 2025 – An Inspection Team from the Federal Ombudsman (Wafaqi Mohtasib) Secretariat headed by a Senior Advisor, Mr. Ahmad Farooq, which visited the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Head Office here today to look into a large number of complaints regarding irregularities there, submitted its preliminary Report to the Wafaqi Mohtasib. |
||||||||||||
 |
TÜRKIYE A DELEGATION FROM THE DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR PRISONS AND DETENTION HOUSES PAID A VISIT TO THE OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTION.Deputy General Directors of Prisons and Detention Houses Mr. Fatih Güngör and Mr. Namık Kemal Varol, Head of Department Ms. Armağan Buran, and Judge Ms. Burcu Dölek paid a visit to the Ombudsman Institution, on 21 August 2025. |