A delegation from the Office of the Provincial Ombudsman Punjab, Pakistan paid a training-oriented working visit to the Ombudsman Institution of Türkiye between 4-8 May, 2026.

On the first day of the training programme, the delegation was received by Chief Ombudsman of Türkiye, Mr. Mehmet Akarca, with the participation of the Secretary General of the Ombudsman Institution, Mr. Mehmet Doğan. During the meeting, emphasis was placed on the importance of strengthening cooperation and mutual exchange among Ombudsman Institutions, particularly in the fields of human rights protection, fairness, and good administration.

Throughout the program, the delegation held meetings with Ombudsmen Mr. Ertunç Erkan Balta, Mr. Şerif Yılmaz, Mr. Abdullah Cengiz Makas, and Mr. Özcan Yıldız. Experts from the relevant departments of the Institution delivered comprehensive presentations on the Ombudsman Institution’s mandate, functioning, working procedures, complaint-handling mechanisms, and landmark decisions.

During the training program, a broad range of topics was addressed, including children’s rights, women’s rights, justice, social security, education, public personnel, and labour-related complaints, among others. In addition, the entire complaint-handling process from the submission and examination of complaints to the finalization of decisions and recommendations was comprehensively reviewed. Informative presentations were also delivered on the Institution’s international relations, as well as its corporate communication and media strategies. The meetings and presentations provided a valuable opportunity for the exchange of knowledge, experience, and best practices.

Moreover, as part of the program, the delegation also paid a visit to the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye (HREIT), where they were received by the President of the Institution, Mr. Vasip Şahin. Deputy President of the HREIT Mr. Muhammet Ecevit Carti and Board Member Atty. Erol Gökdöl together with relevant experts, delivered a detailed presentation to the delegation about the Institution’s mandate, structure, and activities in the field of human rights and equality.

As part of the training programme, the delegation visited Anıtkabir (Mausoleum) and paid tribute to the founder of the Republic of Türkiye, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The delegation also visited the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (GNAT), the Nation’s Library of the Presidency of Türkiye, as well as the Ankara Ethnography Museum and the Art and Sculpture Museum.

A closing session was held on the final day of the training program with the participation of Chief Ombudsman of Türkiye Mr. Mehmet Akarca, Ombudsman Ms. Fatma Benli Yalçın, Ombudsman Mr. Abdullah Cengiz Makas, Ombudsman Mr. Özcan Yıldız, and Secretary General Mr. Mehmet Doğan. The session included an overall evaluation of the training program, followed by a certificate presentation ceremony for the delegation of the Office of the Ombudsman Punjab.

The training provided an important opportunity to further strengthen institutional cooperation, the exchange of knowledge and experience, and deepen the longstanding ties of friendship and collaboration between the two Ombudsman institutions. The program also constituted a meaningful contribution to the spirit of solidarity and cooperation promoted under the umbrella of the OICOA.

The working visit concluded in an atmosphere of mutual goodwill and constructive dialogue, further reinforcing the close institutional ties, cooperation and friendship between the Ombudsman Institutions of Türkiye and Punjab.