HONG KONG  

 OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, HONG KONG

Appointment of New Ombudsman on 1.4.2019

   Ms Winnie Chiu Wai-yin starts her term of five years as the Ombudsman of Hong Kong commencing April 1, 2019. The appointment is made by the Chief Executive of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China in accordance with The Ombudsman Ordinance (Cap 397).

Ms Chiu has served in the Hong Kong Police Force for over 36 years, during which she has accumulated rich experience in investigation, operations, policy planning and human resources management. She also possesses outstanding skills in leadership and communication. As the first female Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ms Chiu commands respect and is well recognised both in the Government and in the community. Her remarkable career in the Police bears testimony to her professionalism and competence.

The former Ombudsman, Ms Connie Lau, completed her term on March 31, 2019.

An event on “Child rights: Equal opportunities” was held by the initiative of the Azerbaijani Ombudsman

An event on “Child rights: Equal opportunities” was held by the Ombudsman Institution jointly with Goygol District Executive Power in the Gizilja village school. The issue of effective education and upbringing of the children for the future was highlighted during the event. The Head of the Ganja Regional Center of the Ombudsman has given broad information about the activities of the Ombudsman in the field of protection and promotion of child rights and also the Convention on the Rights of Child adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1989, as well as the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Child Rights. He emphasized the importance of combating violence against children.
The participants were informed about the hotline service 916 of the Ombudsman, which is operating for 24/7 hours.
During the event the issues of protecting children from harmful habits, children’s internet safety as well as malicious information were discussed and several proposals were put forward in this regard including child rehabilitation centers and regional shelters for children who suffered from violence.

               TATARSTAN         

COMMISSIONER FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS REPUBLIC OF TATARSTAN

Tatarstan Ombudsman organized another lesson of legal knowledge school

Since 2011, the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Tatarstan has been conducting a course of the School of Legal Knowledge in cooperation with the Union of Pensioners of Russia in the Republic of Tatarstan.

On March 1, 2019, the regular lesson of the School of Legal Knowledge under the Ombudsman in the Republic of Tatarstan took place.
Together with the head of the legal department of the Notary Chamber of the Republic of Tatarstan, students of the University of the third age understood the intricacies of inheritance law, studied the differences of inheritance under the will and inheritance by law, analyzed the rules of law on specific examples from life.

The Azerbaijani Ombudsman attaches great importance to the promotion of inclusive education in the country

The representative of Azerbaijan Ombudsman Institution took part at the Consultative meeting on Analysis of the inclusive education policy in Azerbaijan which was held by the “Regional Development” Public Union of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation within the framework of the project named “Improvement of the teachers’ skills in the field of inclusive education” implemented with the support of the European Union. .
During the meeting it was pointed out that according to the Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopted on 13 December, 2006, state parties recognize the right to education of persons with disabilities. Accordingly, State Parties shall ensure the inclusive education system at all levels and lifelong learning with the purpose of realizing this right without discrimination, also the persons with disabilities should not be excluded from education and could have access an inclusive, quality and free primary and secondary education on an equal basis with others. .
In the event the Ombudsman’s activities on eliminating obstacles related to the rehabilitation of the persons with disabilities, increasing the opportunities of inclusive education, establishing new workplaces and ensuring their integration to the society were highly appreciated. It was also informed about the “State Program on inclusive education for the persons with disabilities in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2018-2024” approved by the country President.
It is also worth to mention the Ombudsman’s proposals to the government on implementing measures regarding creation of different profile social service institutions and rehabilitation centers, education institutions with inclusive components, allocation of sufficient financial and human resources for organizing inclusive education, preparing children with disabilities to inclusive education from earlier years, training of specialized trainers.

National Preventive Group of the Ombudsman visited the prison

Members of the National Preventive Group (NPG) against torture of the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan visited the prison in Gobustan under the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice.

During the monitoring NPG  inspected the treatment of the detainees in the facility, medical-sanitary units and the conditions in the place of detention, the issues of healthcare, nutrition, supply of hot and cold drinking water and the documentation.

It was observed that the conditions in cells of the prison need to be improved. The recommendations were given to the administration of the prison, in this regard.

During the visit NPG with participation of a doctor met some prisoners in private for examining the treatment towards them. Some of their appeals have been ensured on the spot.

The recommendations concerning this visit are being summarized for presenting to the relevant state bodies.

The Commissioner for human rights in the Republic of Tatarstan presented annual Report at a meeting of the State Council

Most often, the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic is addressed with issues of violations of labor and housing rights, the right to health care and medical care, the right to education.

In the sphere of labor relations, the most common are violations related to the remuneration of employees.

Often in the past year, members of the delegation spoke about raising the retirement age. Work on professional retraining of persons of pre-retirement age, consulting work with the population was organized. The Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Republic and the employment service bodies should provide for systematic measures to prevent discrimination in hiring on the basis of age.

The number of appeals on the protection of rights to education increased last year.

The earliest possible solution, according to Sariya Saburskaya, is also required by the issue of creating a barrier-free environment for people with disabilities.

The report of the Commissioner for Human Rights raised many questions from deputies of the State Council.

              SRI LANKA                

OFFICE OF THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION FOR ADMINISTRATION

 His Excellency the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has appointed Mr. Justice Kankani Tantri Chitrasiri  as the Ombudsman (Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration) of Sri Lanka in place of Mr.L.A.T. Ekanayake who retired on 23rd of January 2019.

he has been a judge in different capacities for over 38 years and retired as the Acting Chief Justice on 13th April 1953 reaching 65 years of age which is the retiring age for the Supreme Court Judges in terms of the Constitution.

Mention below is a brief career achievements that  he had gained:

Career Summary

• Judge of the Supreme Court, Sri Lanka                                                  2015-2018 April
• Judge of the Court of Appeal, Sri Lanka                                                 2009-2015
• Judge of the High Court                                                                             2001-2008
• District Judge                                                                                                1988-2001
• Magistrate                                                                                                      1980-1988
• Visiting Judge of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Fiji               2016- to          date
• Visiting Justice of Appeal, Court of Appeal, Republic of Fiji               2009-2011
• Registrar of Companies, Sri Lanka                                                            1996-1997
• Director, Human Rights Commission, Sri Lanka                                   1991-1993
• Asst. Legal Draftsman, Legal Draftsman Department                          1979-1980
• Secretary/Legal officer, State Graphite Corporation                             1978-1979
• Legal Practitioner                                                                                          1977-1978
• Visiting Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Sri Lanka                   1975-1977

Education

-Followed Post Graduate studies (Majoring Intellectual Property         Subjects)

        Queen Mary College, University of London                                                   2001/2002

-Attorney’s-at-Law (Final Examination)

                Sri Lanka Law College                                                                                     1975-1976

-Bachelor of Laws Degree [LL. B]

         Faculty of Law, University of Sri Lanka                                                                                       1971-1975

Publications & Other Positions Held

• Visiting Scholar at the Law School, University of Deakin in Melbourne, Australia                           

                    – Delivered a guest lecture on “International Abduction of Children under the Hague Conference”.      

• Designated as a Member of the International Hague Network of Judges [IHNJ] by the “Hague Conference on Private International Law” to  represent Sri Lanka.

                      -Presented a paper on “Towards the Well-Being of the Child through The Hague Child Abductions and Protection of Children Conventions” at a conference held in Macau SAR, China.

• Published the book titled “Decisions on Intellectual Property Issues of the Commercial High Court of Sri Lanka”.                                            

• Functioned as the Chairman to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry that was established to investigate and inquire into the Issuance of Treasury Bonds during the period 01.02.2015 to 31.03.2016 by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. This appointment was made by His Excellency, the President of Sri Lanka. The report submitted by the Commission can be reached by browsing through the President’s media web-site.      

Having said that he wish to extend his fullest support in all your en-devours to protect the rights of the people. He hope you will inform him the details and other necessary information of the organisation including the events your organisation intend to hold in the future.

wishing you and the members of the working committee and the other members of the organisation to have the necessary strength for a fruitful future.

The audit on the complaint on the violation of the right in educational institution

The working group of the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Tatarstan checked the circumstances described in the complaint of the citizen. The audit found that the primary school teacher, the class teacher of the applicant’s son, indeed allowed a lack of control over the balance of the student’s school meal card, and therefore the latter was deprived of the necessary food during the day.

The school conducted an internal investigation on the basis of the order No. 12 of January 17, 201 “On the creation of a commission for the official investigation of the appeal”. According to its results, for the improper performance of their duties, a comment was announced to the primary school teacher, the 3 B class class teacher and the Deputy Director for Academic Work.

Following the results of the audit, the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Tatarstan recommended:

to the School principal:

– organize purposeful work on interaction with parents in the upbringing and education of children; in identifying conflict situations, it is more active to involve a school psychologist to resolve them; step up the work of the deputy director of primary classes on the organization and control of the work of young professionals with their parents.

– methodical association of primary school teachers at their meetings to review and study the experience of work on conflict resolution, the organization of work with the parent community.

– prevent infringement of the rights and legitimate interests of minors and their parents (legal representatives).

An event on “Child rights: Equal opportunities” was held by the initiative of the Azerbaijani Ombudsman

An event on “Child rights: Equal opportunities” was held by the Ombudsman Institution jointly with Goygol District Executive Power in the Gizilja village school. The issue of effective education and upbringing of the children for the future was highlighted during the event. The Head of the Ganja Regional Center of the Ombudsman has given broad information about the activities of the Ombudsman in the field of protection and promotion of child rights and also the Convention on the Rights of Child adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1989, as well as the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Child Rights. He emphasized the importance of combating violence against children.
The participants were informed about the hotline service 916 of the Ombudsman, which is operating for 24/7 hours.
During the event the issues of protecting children from harmful habits, children’s internet safety as well as malicious information were discussed and several proposals were put forward in this regard including child rehabilitation centers and regional shelters for children who suffered from violence.