Annual Conference of the EOI

On Septembre 20th, the Human Rights Centre took part to the annual conference of the EOI – the European Ombudsman Institute, held in Innsbruck (Austria). On that occasion, Paolo De Stefani, member of the Human Rights Centre, addressed the EOI members in the workshop on "The independence of the Ombudsman in Europe". His contribution was devoted to “Proactive approach and network involvement as guarantees of independence of ombudsman institutions: some systemic remarks and ideas for discussion”. Speakers included: Lauri Sivonen, Office of the Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner; Gerhard Grill, Office of the European Ombudsman; Tsuyoshi Hiramatsu, Kwansei Gakuin University (Japan); Tatyana Merzljakova, Human Rights Commissioner of the region of Sverdlovsk, Russian Federation; Jörg Geghart, EU Fundamental Rights Agency. The conference was also the venue to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Institute. The European Ombudsman Institute is a center for the exchange of knowledge and information between national and subnational ombudsperson institutes, human rights national and local structures, research centres and independent scholars. It is based in Innsbruck. Its incumbent chair is Burgi Vollker, Ombudsperson of the Autonomous province of Alto Adige/Südtirol.