The ninth meeting of the Association of Mediterranean Ombudsmen (AOM) was held in Malta on 9 and 10 March 2016. It gave rise to some varied debate on the three following topics:
- the dual role of the Ombudsman: defending citizens and promoting the right to good administration;
- strengthening the institution of the Ombudsman through international cooperation, training opportunities and university studies in good governance;
- the role of the Ombudsman in protecting human rights in a time of economic and political crisis, terrorism and migration.
For the High Commissioner, this visit was an opportunity to make useful contacts with peer institutions of member countries of the Mediterranean region and strengthen links with Ombudsmen and Mediators who are also members of the Association of Ombudsmen and Mediators of the Francophonie (AOMF), whom she was able to meet at this Association's last congress in Quebec in October 2015.
At the close of work at this ninth meeting, the General Assembly of the AOM ruled on applications to join the network, including the application from the Monegasque institution, which was unanimously accepted as a voting member of the Association of Mediterranean Ombudsmen.
The High Commissioner Joins the AOM
10 March 2016