The Ombudsperson of Azerbaijan, in collaboration with the Chamber of Auditors of Azerbaijan, organized an international conference on the theme “Role of Audit in Protecting the Interests of State and Economic Entities”, which brought together Sabina Aliyeva, the Ombudsperson of Azerbaijan; Prof. Vahid Novruzov, Chairman of the Chamber of Auditors; staff members from both institutions besides heads of foreign auditing organizations; NGOs and the media.

During her opening remarks, Ombudsperson stated that the audit institution is an important mechanism that serves to ensure transparency, accountability, the rule of law, and a culture of responsible governance.

The Ombudsperson noted that a strong auditing system significantly contributes to protecting the legitimate interests of the state, business entities, and citizens; ensuring the efficient use of public resources; and strengthening economic security.

Sabina Aliyeva pointed out that from a human rights perspective, the auditing system strengthens transparency and accountability, increases public trust, and serves to prevent rights violations and ensure social justice.

In his introductory speech, the Chairman of the Chamber of Auditors, Prof. Vahid Novruzov, noted that modern auditing plays a vital and preventive role in the protection, development, and sustainability of business.

The Informal Resolution of Disputes (IRD), is a revolutionary programme designed to bring about expeditious resolution of complaints through dialogue and mutual understanding without going through the rigorous official procedures, says the Wafaqi Mohtasib, Pakistan, Mr. Naveed Kamran Baloch.

He was inaugurating a 4-day Online Training Workshop meant for Informal Resolution of Disputes (IRD) Focal Persons and IRD Officers at the Wafaqi Mohtasib Head Office here today. The Training Workshop aims at enhancing the capacity and efficiency of the Officers dealing with IRD cases.

He said ‘the IRD is a structured yet flexible mechanism adopted by the Office of the Wafaqi Mohtasib to provide expeditious, accessible and amicable redressal of grievances’. It is a facilitative, non-adjudicatory and consensual process designed to resolve the grievances through mutual agreement between the parties without recourse to formal determination of rights and liabilities.

The Wafaqi Mohtasib further added that the initiative aims to institutionalize a culture of problem-solving and making grievance redressal more responsive, humane and efficient. The underlying philosophy of IRD is grounded in the principle that a large number of disputes particularly those arising from administrative delays and procedural bottlenecks can be effectively resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding. The programme is expected to benefit a large segment of the population especially in the remote and far off regions.

At the initiative of the Ombudsperson of Azerbaijan, the International Baku Ombudsmen Summit on the theme “Human Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Risks, and Responsibilities” was held in Baku on June 18-19, 2026. The event was dedicated to observe  the Human Rights Day in the Republic of Azerbaijan on June 18 every year.

The summit brought together ombudspersons from nearly 30 countries, representatives of NHRIs, international organizations, civil society organizations, and heads of state entities, as well as prominent experts in the fields of artificial intelligence and human rights.

At the event, Farid Ahmadov, the Minister of Justice, read out the official message of greetings from  President Ilham Aliyev to the participants.

While delivering opening remarks, the Ombudsperson of Azerbaijan expressed her deepest gratitude to President for his message to the participants.

The Ombudsperson emphasized that the national strategic documents and state programs actively promote the implementation of AI technologies within a framework of ethical, safe, transparent, and human rights-based principles.

The Ombudsperson stressed the need for extensive application of AI in various sectors, including education, healthcare, social protection, labor relations, and the information ecosystem. She highlighted the crucial importance of developing these technologies in strict adherence to the principles of legality, accountability, equality, and respect for human dignity. In addition, she pointed out that NHRIs play a significant role in protecting human rights during the period of rapid digital transformation.

Chief Ombudsman of Türkiye, Mr. Mehmet Akarca participated as a speaker in the International Baku Ombudsmen Summit titled “Human Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Risks and Responsibilities”, hosted by the Office of the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan recently.

In his speech, Mr. Akarca emphasized that while artificial intelligence offers significant opportunities to enhance efficiency and quality of public services, it also brings important challenges which should be addressed in line with consideration with human rights, transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. He also highlighted the role of ombudsman institutions in promoting a culture of seeking legal remedies and raising public awareness of digital rights.

On the occasion, Mr. Akarca also had the opportunity to meet Mr. Naveed Kamran Baloch, the newly appointed Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan and President of AOA, and to discuss with him cooperation between our institutions as well as within AOA.

Pakistan’s Federal Ombudsman, Mr. Naveed Kamran Baloch, has emphasized that artificial intelligence (AI) must be developed in a manner to uphold human rights, promotes inclusivity, and strengthens public trust rather than exacerbating social inequalities.

Speaking at a panel session at the International Baku Ombudsmen Summit held under the theme “Human Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Risks and Responsibilities,” Baloch highlighted the growing importance of ensuring that technological innovation remains firmly rooted in human values, said a message received here on Saturday from Baku (Azerbaijan).

Bloch said, “AI should help humans in decision-making, not replace them and technologies can increase efficiency but cannot substitute wisdom. They can analyze data and accelerate processes, but they cannot replace empathy.”

The Federal Ombudsman stressed that while AI offers significant opportunities for improving governance, public services, and development outcomes, its long-term impact will ultimately be determined by the ethical principles and societal values guiding its use.

The future of artificial intelligence is defined not only by technological progress but also by societal values, he noted. Baloch underscored that AI has the potential to become a powerful instrument for positive change if human rights remain at the center of innovation.

On May 25, 2026, the Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, participated in the International Scientific Conference on Law and Humanism: Modern Boundaries of Human Rights Protection in Ustka (Poland).

The Public Defender spoke about the role of human rights in strengthening public institutions and emphasized the importance of integrating human rights standards into the development of the state’s economic, political, legal and administrative directions, which results in social stability.

The Public Defender also spoke about the work of his institution and noted that a human rights-based approach in public administration requires transparency and public participation to ensure that institutions focus on the needs of the most vulnerable. “We carry out strict monitoring of state administrative bodies to ensure that their internal procedures respect the European Convention on Human Rights and the principle of subsidiarity,” the Public Defender stated in his speech.

The conference was organized by the Pomeranian University of Slupsk, the University of Cologne and Tbilisi State University.

On May 14–15, 2026, the Second Asian Women’s Forum is being held in the city of Bukhara.

The prestigious international event has brought together representatives of parliaments and governments of Asian countries, senators and deputies, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the United Nations and its specialised agencies, experts of international organisations, as well as members of the public.

In his address to the participants of the forum, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasised that ensuring the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of women, as well as increasing their socio-political activity, has been identified as one of the priority areas of reforms in the New Uzbekistan.

Within the framework of the forum organised under the theme “Investing in Women is the Foundation of Sustainable Growth: Expanding Women’s Political, Economic, Social and Environmental Opportunities”, participants are discussing issues related to expanding women’s participation in public and state governance, strengthening their economic independence, and enhancing opportunities in education, science, innovation, artificial intelligence, digital security and social protection.

The Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Feruza Eshmatova is also participating in the forum and delivered a speech during the fourth panel session.

The forum serves to promote the protection of women’s rights and interests, advance gender equality, and strengthen regional and international cooperation in this area.

Díli, 12 May 2026 – The Provedor for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ), Virgílio da Silva Guterres “Lamukan”, has called on Timor-Leste’s media to pursue investigative journalism, and strictly follow the Journalistic Code of Ethics, arguing that human rights journalism operates on a different logic than democracy itself.

Speaking as a panelist at the Dili Dialogue Forum, the Ombudsman criticized a troubling trend he has observed in Timor-Leste’s media landscape.

“What happens now is one side is covered in today’s news, and the other side appears in tomorrow’s news. Or one side is covered by one station, and the other side is at the other station,” he said. “Good journalism does not take sides before it has the facts. Cover both sides. Verify before you publish.”

He warned that this fragmented approach to reporting undermines the public’s right to the full truth and fails the principles of ethical journalism. He urged the media to move beyond surface reporting and invest in investigative journalism that uncovers systemic patterns of abuse. He also reminded journalists of their ethical duty to cover both sides of any story within the same report, and to respect the Journalistic Code of Ethics at all times.

“Good journalism does not take sides before it has the facts. Cover both sides. Verify before you publish. Respect the Code of Ethics – not because it is convenient, but because it protects the truth,” he said.

The Ombudsman emphasized that while democracy is governed by majority rule, human rights are fundamentally different.

“In human rights, one person matters. One single complaint matters,” Guterres said. “Journalists must understand this. You do not ignore a violation just because only one victim speaks. That one person has dignity, and that dignity is not subject to a vote.”

The Provedor also directed a sharp message to political leaders, warning them to respect press freedom and accept criticism as an unavoidable part of public office.

“If you do not want to be written about, if you do not want to be criticized, then stay home,” Guterres stated bluntly. “Your political position requires you to be criticized. That is not an attack – that is accountability.”

He added that politicians who wish to avoid negative coverage have only one honorable option: to do their jobs properly and fulfill the promises they made during their campaigns.

“If you do not want to be criticized, then do your job properly. Deliver what you promised. That is the only defense a public official has against the press – competence and integrity,” he said.

Guterres reiterated that journalists cannot protect human rights without first understanding the Constitution. A journalist who does not know fundamental rights, he argued, will see injustice and not recognize it. He drew a sharp distinction between having press freedom and having a truly free press, noting that a press which repeats only official statements or avoids difficult questions is not genuinely free.

On May 28-29, 2026, Public Defender of Georgia Levan Ioseliani is participating in the International Conference of Ombudsmen in Rome (Italy), the theme of which is “The Role of the Ombudsman in the Protection of Rights in a Changing World”.

The event is organized by the President of the National Coordination of Ombudsmen, Ombudsman of Italy and Ombudsman of the Lazio Region, Marino Fardelli, as well as the Lazio Regional Council, and is being attended by ombudsmen, mediators, experts and representatives of human rights institutions from different countries.

The conference aims to discuss civil protection, rights and democratic innovations in the face of new global challenges, as well as the evolution of institutional mediation and future challenges facing oversight institutions, and to share best practices and new perspectives for international cooperation.

Within the framework of the conference, the Public Defender of Georgia met with the President of the National Coordination of Ombudsmen of Italy, Ombudsman of Italy and Ombudsman of the Lazio Region, Marino Fardelli, and discussed issues of future cooperation.

The Office of the Ombudsman Punjab recently participated in an international webinar delivered by Mr. Klaas Vansteenkiste, Forensic Auditor, Centre Intégrité Centrum Integriteit (MedfedOmb), Federal Ombudsman Belgium, centred on Belgium’s landmark whistle blower protection legislation and the evolving role of ombudsman institutions in safeguarding those who speak truth to power. The session was attended by Ms. Ayesha Hamid, Ombudsman Punjab, Secretary Mr. Kaiser Saleem, and all Advisors from the Head Office and Regional Offices.

Mr. Vansteenkiste outlined the Belgian Federal Ombudsman’s dual mandate, handling complaints about federal public services and managing whistle blower reports for both public and private sectors. Belgium enacted two landmark laws in 2022 covering both the public and private sectors, addressing breaches across key areas including public procurement, financial fraud, and consumer protection. The framework provides internal, external, and public disclosure making anonymous reporting permissible.

Acting as a federal coordinator across 29 competent authorities, the Belgian Federal Ombudsman receives reports, assesses their admissibility, and directs them to the relevant authority for investigation. Whistle blowers facing retaliation receive immediate extra-judicial protection, with sanctions for violators ranging from heavy fines to imprisonment of up to three years. Private sector whistleblowing reports tripled from 2023 to 2025, rising from approximately 200 to over 600.

(Mr. Klaas Vansteenkiste, Forensic Auditor, Centre Intégrité Centrum Integriteit (MedfedOmb), Federal Ombudsman Belgium, briefing the session)

Ms. Ayesha Hamid, Ombudsman Punjab, engaged Mr. Vansteenkiste with pointed questions on the verification of anonymous complaints, the risk of false reporting and whether all 29 competent authorities operate with equal powers and jurisdiction. In her closing remarks, Ms. Ayesha Hamid noted the Office’s intention to review the existing Punjab Ombudsman Act to identify any gaps or limitations in light of the Belgian experience.