Delegation of the Korean ACRC visits the Austrian Ombudsman Board

September 2, 2014

A delegation of the Korean Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) was welcomed to the Austrian Ombudsman Board (AOB) by IOI Secretary General and AOB member Günther Kräuter on Friday, 29 August 2014. The 26-person strong delegation was headed by Director of the ACRC, Mr. Sang-Bum Lee.

The comprehensive visit was organized in cooperation with the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA), a UN based international organization with its seat in Laxenburg, Austria. Since entering into a Memorandum of Understanding in November 2012 IACA and IOI regularly cooperate, particularly in the area of trainings and exchange of information.

After an initial welcome and an introductory assessment over the functions, purpose and mandate of both, the Austrian Ombudsman Board and the International Ombudsman Institute, questions covering a wide range of topics highlighted the lively debate.

The questions concerned, amongst other topics, the independence of the Austrian Ombudsman Board in selecting their staff, the power of making recommendations to the administration and the current tendency of privatizing public services and its implications. The weekly TV programme “Bürgeranwalt” (Advocate for the People) was received with particular interest by the Korean visitors.