Parliamentary Ombudsman participates in second session of the IOI World Board of Directors meeting

Parliamentary Ombudsman participates in second session of the IOI World Board of Directors meeting

Published May 13, 2026

The Parliamentary Ombudsman of Malta, Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon, participated in the second session of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) World Board of Directors meeting currently being held in Willemstad, Curaçao.

The second day of discussions focused on the work of several IOI working groups and committees that support the governance, development, and international engagement of the organisation.

Among the subjects discussed were the work of the Standing By-laws Committee, of which the Parliamentary Ombudsman is a member, the Working Group on the United Nations and International Cooperation, the Working Group on Travel Policy, and the IOI Editorial Board. The Board also discussed the activities of the newly established Working Group on Artificial Intelligence, which will examine the opportunities and challenges that AI presents for Ombudsman institutions worldwide.

During the session, the IOI Board formally approved the organisation’s new Code of Ethics. The Parliamentary Ombudsman formed part of the working group responsible for the drafting of the Code and contributed to the discussions and development of the final text. The Code is intended to strengthen ethical standards, integrity, independence, and good governance within Ombudsman institutions forming part of the IOI.

The Board also examined a number of training initiatives and international projects planned for the coming year, aimed at strengthening Ombudsman institutions and supporting capacity building across the various IOI regions.

Discussions further continued on reports presented by the regional chapters of the IOI. Each Regional President addressed the Board on the activities, priorities, and challenges within their respective regions. In his capacity as Vice President of the IOI European Region, the Parliamentary Ombudsman actively participated in the discussions and contributed to the deliberations on the agenda items under consideration.

The IOI World Board meeting also serves as an important networking platform, bringing together Ombudsman representatives from across the world. It provides an opportunity to exchange experiences, discuss common challenges faced by different regions, and strengthen international cooperation between Ombudsman institutions.

The next meeting of the IOI World Board of Directors will be held in Vienna in 2027.