Austrian Ombudsman Kräuter at the International Forum and Training Workshop in Tokyo

The topic chosen for the international forum was „Administrative Grievance Resolution and The Ombudsman – Enhancing Transparency and responsiveness in public administration“. Professor Masahiro Horie from the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies moderated this session. Key note speeches were delivered inter alia by IOI President and Namibian Ombudsman John R. Walters, IOI Secretary General and Austrian Ombudsman Günther Kräuter, as well as President of the Asian Ombudsman Association and IOI Regional President for the Asian Region, Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan Salman Faruqui.

All speakers presented good practice examples from their respective country or region and received many questions from the big audience, stimulating a lively discussion. Austrian Ombudsman Kräuter talked particularly about measures to enhance transparency and responsiveness in public administration and gave insights in the AOB’s activities and structures.

An international training workshop titled “Wachdogs Bark – Systematic Investigations for Ombudsman” added a useful possibility to exchange experiences and learning opportunity to the forum. The training was mainly conducted by André Marin, former Ontario Ombudsman, as well as Professor Hisao Tsukamoto (Waseda University), and Professor Kimiyoshi Toyama (Rikkyo University).

The gathering was also used to hold a separate Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA) Meeting, as well as an IOI Asian Regional Meeting, where representatives of the region were able to discuss current activities.