Ombudsperson Schwarz attends 40th anniversary of the Ombudsman of South Tyrol

Ombudsman, Public Defenders and Mediators met on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Ombudsperson of South Tyrol and unanimously emphasised the importance of fighting maladministration and standing up for people who feel that they have been treated unfairly by public authorities.

Upon the invitation of Gabriele Morandell, Ombudsperson of South Tyrol, a special anniversary celebration brought representatives from Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Brussels and Austria to the Autonomous Province Bolzano. The aim of this meeting was to exchange experiences in different areas and to improve networking in order to be able to act even more efficiently and successfully in the future.

Ombudsperson Gaby Schwarz attended the event as Chairperson of the Austrian Ombudsman Board and as Secretary General of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI). In her speech, she highlighted the successful journey of the Austrian Ombudsman Board from investigating cases of maladministration to becoming the „human rights house of the Republic of Austria“ and the distinctive features this development entails. As IOI Secretary General, Ms. Schwarz welcomed the fruitful exchange with other colleagues.

In conclusion, all present unanimously ascribed to the principle that Ombudspersons are driven by an inner motivation to take action and – in doing so – motivate others to take action as well.