Ombudsperson Gaby Schwarz took part in Pope Leo XIV's general audience in St Peter's Square in Rome today as a representative of the Austrian Ombudsman Board and the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI). "Reliable institutions that stand up for human rights and justice are particularly important in challenging times. As an independent, non-partisan supervisory body, the Austrian Ombudsman Board is not only committed to these values at a national level, but is also networked with ombudsman institutions worldwide via the International Ombudsman Institute," emphasised Ombudsperson Gaby Schwarz after the audience.
The IOI, based in Vienna, is the world's largest organisation of ombudsman institutions and promotes international exchange on the rule of law, good administration and human rights. "The exchange across national borders shows how important independent control, dialogue and people's trust in democratic structures are," said Ombudsperson Gaby Schwarz on the occasion of her participation and speech at the International Ombudsman Conference, which is taking place in Rome with over 240 participants.
"Human rights need commitment from all of us," said Ombudswoman Gaby Schwarz after the general audience with Pope Leo XIV in Rome.