97th E-News Letter of Asian Ombudsman Association September 2025
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PAKISTAN WAFAQI MOHTASIB PRESIDES OVER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING OF ASIAN OMBUDSMAN ASSOCIATION AT NANJING – CHINA.Nanjing (China): September 10, 2025 – The Wafaqi Mohtasib Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi has said that the ombudsman institutions working across the globe are striving to promote good governance, rule of law and efficient public administration. He was addressing the 26th Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors and the 18th General Assembly meeting of the Asian Ombudsman Association at Nanjing, China here today. |
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HONG KONG CHINA OMBUDSMAN ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF FULL INVESTIGATION INTO HOSPITAL AUTHORITY’S DEPOSIT REFUND ARRANGEMENTS FOR ASSISTIVE DEVICE LOAN SERVICE.The Ombudsman, Mr. Jack Chan, today (26 September) announced the completion of a full investigation into the Hospital Authority (“HA”)’s deposit refund arrangements for the assistive device loan service, with 12 recommendations on improvement measures made. |
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MACAU COMMISSIONER AGAINST CORRUPTION AO IEONG SEONG ATTENDED THE AOA MEETING IN NANJING AND VISITED THE JIANGSU PROVINCIAL COMMISSION OF SUPERVISION.The Commissioner Against Corruption, Ao Ieong Seong, led a delegation of the CCAC of Macao to attend the 18th Meeting of the General Assembly of the Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA) in Nanjing in recent days. The delegation also visited the Jiangsu Provincial Commission of Supervision.The event was organised by the National Commission of Supervision, with the aim to gather the Asian member institutions to jointly discuss regional affairs and exchange supervisory work experience. |
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PROVINCIAL OMBUDSMAN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN RETRIEVAL OF ENCROACHED STATE LAND WORTH RS. 499 MILLION.In a high-impact intervention, the Ombudsman Punjab oversaw the retrieval of 300 kanals of state land, valued at over Rs. 499 million, from illegal occupants across various districts. This action, taken in response to public complaints, not only recovered precious government resources but also demonstrated the institution’s resolve against land grabbing and administrative negligence. Citizens across the province expressed gratitude for the decisive action taken to safeguard public property. |
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REPUBLIC OF KOREA ACRC PAID REWARDS OF APPROX. 300 MILLION WON TO 32 CORRUPTION AND PUBLIC INTEREST WHISTLEBLOWERS.The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan) announced that it paid about 300 million won in rewards to 32 whistleblowers for corruption and public interest violations in August. According to data compiled by the ACRC, the amount of revenues recovered by public institutions through corruption and public interest reports this month reached about 3.1 billion won. |
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Turkiye CHIEF OMBUDSMAN MR. MEHMET AKARCA ATTENDED ASIAN OMBUDSMAN ASSOCIATION MEETINGS AND INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP IN CHINA.Chief Ombudsman Mr. Mehmet Akarca and Ombudsman Mr. Sadettin Kalkan attended the 26th Board of Directors and 18th General Assembly Meetings of the Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA), held in Nanjing, China on 9-10 September 2025. |
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MACAU PROMOTING INTEGRITY: CCAC’S MULTIFACETED CAMPAIGN FOR CLEAN ELECTIONS IN MACAO, CHINA.The Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) of Macao plays a vital role in ensuring fair and transparent elections. It combats electoral bribery by monitoring campaign activities. Citizens can report suspected violations via hotline, online platform, or in-person visits to the CCAC. The CCAC also conducts on-site inspections and intervenes early when irregularities arise. |
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IRAN TRANSPARENCY AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST RESOLUTION: CORNERSTONES OF CORRUPTION PREVENTION.Dr. Khodaeiyan, President of the GIO – General Inspection Organization of Iran, emphasized at the opening ceremony of the National Festival on “Promoting Transparency and Eliminating Conflict of Interest Situations” that the fight against corruption is a collective duty, and the most effective way to counter it is through transparency and the elimination of conflicts of interest. |
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AZERBAIJAN THE OMBUDSPERSON REMAINS FOCUSED ON PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS FACING HARDSHIP.On 17 September 2025, Azerbaijan repatriated seven of its citizens from camps in Syria, including one woman and six children.Following the instruction of Ombudsperson Sabina Aliyeva, staff of the Office visited the repatriated individuals accommodated in a social service facility of the Social Services Agency under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, to assess how their rights are being upheld. |
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PROVINCIAL OMBUDSMAN SINDH, PAKISTAN WORKSHOP AT NED UNIVERSITY HELD ON 02.09.2025 TO SELECT 10 AMBASSADORS FOR OMBUDSMAN SINDH.A workshop was held on 02nd Sept, 2025 at the NED University Karachi chaired by Mr. Muhammad Sohail Rajput, Honourable Provincial Ombudsman Sindh to select ten students of NED University as Brand Ambassadors of Provincial Ombudsman Sindh. The students will be given task to disseminate information about the role and functions of the Ombudsman among the students and the public at large. |
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REPUBLIC OF KOREA “SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STARTS WITH INTEGRITY!”ACRC AND APEC COMMIT TO STRENGTHENING ANTI-CORRUPTION COOPERATION.The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan) announced the successful conclusion of the 41st APEC ACTWG Plenary Meeting and the APEC High-Level Dialogue on Anti-Corruption Cooperation (AHDAC), held at Songdo ConvensiA in Incheon, Republic of Korea, from July 30 to August 1. |
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PROVINCIAL OMBUDSMAN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN REAFFIRMING JUSTICE, RESTORING TRUST: OMBUDSMAN PUNJAB IN ACTION.The Office of the Ombudsman Punjab continues to serve as a beacon of accessible justice, transparency,and public trust, providing effective redressal for grievances against maladministration in government departments. Through direct intervention, field outreach, and strong enforcement of citizens’ rights, the institution remains committed to empowering the underserved and protecting public interest. Institutional Access Enhanced: Launch of the Outreach Van Campaign in South Punjab. |
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AZERBAIJAN THE OMBUDSMAN OFFICE HAS INTRODUCED A NEW EDUCATIONAL BOOKLET FOR JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA OUTLETS ON THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION.UNESCO proclaimed 28 September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information on November 17, 2015. In 2025, the world marks the 10th anniversary of this important occasion. Under the Constitutional Law on the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, the Commissioner is responsible for monitoring how state authorities, municipalities, public legal entities, and their officials comply with the obligations set out in the Law on Access to Information. In 2025, as Azerbaijan marks the 30th anniversary of its Constitution and the 150th anniversary of the national press, the Ombudsman Institution has issued a new booklet, “The Right of Media Entities and Journalists to Information,” ahead of this international day. This must be noted that this right was enshrined in the Constitution and plays a vital role in the work of journalists and media outlets. |
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ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN DR. KHODAEIYAN HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE GIO IN FACILITATING PUBLIC COMPLAINTS AND SUPPORTING WHISTLEBLOWERS WORKSHOP.According to the Public Relations Office of the General Inspection Organization (GIO) of Iran, at the international seminar “Effective Ombudsmanship for People’s Livelihood”, held within the framework of the 18th General Assembly of the Asian Ombudsman Association, Dr. Khodaeiyan, President of the GIO, emphasized the fundamental role of public oversight in enhancing the quality of government services. He highlighted the direct link between “general public supervision” and “whistleblower protection” with transparency, accountability, and public trust. |
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UZBEKISTAN DELEGATION LED BY THE OMBUDSMAN FAMILIARIZED WITH THE ACTIVITIES OF THE DANISH NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM.On 23 September 2025, members of the delegation led by the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsman), as part of their official visit, familiarized themselves with the activities of the Danish National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). In Denmark, monitoring within the NPM is entrusted to the Parliamentary Ombudsman. In total, 13 institutions are subject to monitoring under the Danish NPM. At the outset, the Danish Ombudsman delivered a presentation to the delegation members on the system of independent and systematic oversight of human rights in closed institutions |
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TIMORE LESTE PDHJ OECUSSE ENGAGES DIT STUDENTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND GOOD GOVERNANCE.RAEOA, 4 September 2025 – The PDHJ Regional Delegation Office in Oecusse conducted a socialization activity with students and lecturers of the Dili Institute of Technology (DIT) Regional Oecusse campus. The session focused on raising awareness about the institution’s role in protecting human rights and promoting good governance. A total of 75 students participated, including 44 men and 31 women. The activity was led by the Director of PDHJ Regional Delegation RAEOA, Bartolomeu Gonçalves, with the involvement of the Regional Police Commander of RAEOA, Assistant Superintendent Ângelo Quelo, and the President of Sub-KRAM Oecusse, Jeferino da Cruz Salu. Participants expressed satisfaction in joining the initiative, highlighting the importance of state institutions engaging with students to help prevent violations in communities and within public services. |
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TÜRKIYE OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTION OF TÜRKIYE HOSTED SOUTH KOREAN DELEGATION IN ISTANBUL.The Ombudsman Institution of Türkiye hosted South Korean delegation at its Istanbul Office on 3 September 2025. The delegation included Mr. Nam-Doo Kim, Director General of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (Ombudsman), as well as Directors General from the National Tax Service, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and the Land and Housing Corporation. The meeting featured a presentation on the mandate, activities, and sample decisions of the Institution and offered a valuable opportunity to enhance bilateral cooperation. |
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GEORGIA PUBLIC DEFENDER MEETS WITH EMPLOYEES OF MARNEULI DAY CARE CENTER FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND BENEFICIARIES’ FAMILY MEMBERS.On September 4, 2025, the Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, arrived in Marneuli and met with employees of the Marneuli Social Services Center “Child, Family, Society” and beneficiaries’ family members at the Public Defender’s Kvemo Kartli Office. The meeting discussed the problems at the day care center, including the challenges related to providing services in villages located far from the regional center, and the scarcity of financial resources, which, as a result, prevents the attraction of qualified personnel. Representatives of the beneficiaries expressed their desire to increase the working hours of the day care center. |
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UZBEKISTAN EXPERIENCE AND DIALOGUE: INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ORGANIZED FOR THE STAFF OF THE OMBUDSMAN’S OFFICE.On 17–18 September 2025, an international seminar-training was organized in Tashkent for the staff of the Office of the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman), in cooperation with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and the Rule of Law Centre at the University of Helsinki. |
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GEORGIA PUBLIC DEFENDER VISITS SMALL GROUP HOMES AND SHELTER FOR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN IN SHIDA KARTLI REGION.On September 18, 2025, the Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, visited small group homes and a shelter for mothers and children in the Shida Kartli region, met with children in state care and shelter beneficiaries, and received information about their living conditions. |