Twinning Project: Progress Report of the Steering Committee in Skopje

Since May 2015, the Austrian Ombudsman Board (AOB) and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for human rights work together with the Macedonian Ombudsman Board to strengthen and widen its activities. These collaborative ventures are aiming at ensuring the transparency and visibility of the Macedonian administrative body.

To evaluate the current operations of the experts appointed by the AOB, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute and the Macedonian partners, the project managers of all involved institutions met in Skopje, Macedonia. On this occasion, Ombudswoman Brinek and Ombudsman Memeti discussed strategy and planning of upcoming actions, as well as the current refugee crisis in Europe and asylum issues.

This fall, the appointed experts of the AOB and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute will attend the Macedonian Ombudsman Board’s examination of several welfare facilities. At the center of these inspections will be retirement and care homes as well as facilities concerned with children’s aid and juvenile shelters.

Moreover, three scheduled panel discussions will provide a basis to tackle central issues of the Macedonian ombuds-activities: Street children, Roma and people with disabilities. These open forums will provide the means for professional exchange between government representatives, civil society and economy.

Ombudswoman Brinek and Ombudsman Memeti are both enthusiastic over the present course of the project and confident of its future success.

Further information concerning the projects of the Macedonian Ombudsman Office and the collaboration within the Twinning-Project can be found here.