Ombudsman attends 13th World Conference and General Assembly of the IOI
The Ombudsman, Maria Lúcia Amaral, accompanied by the Deputy Ombudsman, Estrela Chaby, participated in the 13th World Conference and General Assembly of the International Institute of Ombudsmen (IOI), events organised by the National Justice of the Netherlands, taking place in The Hague from 12 to 17 May 2024.
For the first time in eight years, this World Conference brought together all IOI members in person. Around two hundred delegates from 60 countries in six regions took part in this quadrennial event, inaugurated by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.
Maria Lúcia Amaral was a speaker at the working session on the national approach to compensation for losses and damages resulting from climate change, sharing her experience and reflecting on the extraordinary jurisdiction granted to the Portuguese Ombudsman in the context of the process of social reparation and compensation for the victims of the major fires that occurred in the country in 2017.
The IOI General Assembly was inaugurated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. “Ombudsmen are an important link between state institutions and the population, thus contributing to a renewed and updated social contract,” emphasised Volker Türk, drawing attention to their ability to identify systemic failures and promote more transparent and accountable forms of governance.
The Assembly also approved the Hague Declaration, which recognises the role of ombudsmen in improving relations between citizens and governments, making them accessible and inclusive of all, especially the most vulnerable groups. The Declaration underlines as well the importance of strengthening strategic planning and international cooperation to make their actions more effective and impactful, not forgetting ongoing crises such as climate change.
Finally, new leaders were sworn in, namely the new President of the IOI, Nashieli Ramírez Hernández, President of the Mexico City Human Rights Commission.
