OIC Ombudsman Association

The Republic of Djibouti has appointed H.E. Kassim Haroun Ali as its new Ombudsman, effective 25 May 2026.

A lawyer by training and a dedicated public servant, H.E. Ali brings extensive experience in governance, decentralisation, dialogue, and public service reform.

During his tenure as Minister Delegate in charge of Decentralisation from 2021 to May 2026, he played a key role in advancing regional development, improving access to public services, and strengthening partnerships with national and international institutions.

His achievements include supporting Regional Development Plans, contributing to the implementation of more than 94 infrastructure projects under the ADIL programme, and promoting educational equity through the decentralisation of Baccalaureate examinations.

OICOA warmly congratulates H.E. Kassim Haroun Ali on his appointment and looks forward to welcoming Djibouti’s Ombudsman Institution as a valued partner in our shared mission to promote justice, transparency, accountability, and good governance across OIC member states.

“To bring the State closer to the citizen, ensure fairness in access to public services, and contribute to the harmonious development of the Republic of Djibouti.”

Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan, Mr. Naveed Kamran Baloch, member OICOA attended the International Baku Ombudsmen Summit held in Baku, Azerbaijan, under the theme “Human Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Risks and Responsibilities.”

Mr. Baloch also participated as a member of the panel discussion, contributing to the exchange of views on the protection and promotion of human rights in the context of rapid technological transformation.

The Summit brought together heads and representatives of ombudsman institutions and national human rights institutions from nearly 30 countries, along with leaders and representatives of international organizations, senior government officials, representatives of civil society institutions, and renowned experts in the fields of artificial intelligence and human rights.

The event provided an important platform for dialogue on a wide range of topical issues, including the protection of rights in the digital environment, data protection, privacy, combating disinformation, the impact of artificial intelligence on the labor market and employment, transparency in artificial intelligence systems, fairness and equality, and the promotion of digital literacy.

The participation of the Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan further reflected the importance of international cooperation and exchange of best practices among ombudsman institutions in addressing emerging challenges related to artificial intelligence and human rights.

The consistent and sustainable initiatives undertaken by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, in the field of protecting human rights and freedoms, as well as the special attention given to the International Baku Ombudsmen Summit, clearly demonstrate that the protection of human rights is defined as a strategic priority at the state level.

Sabina Aliyeva, Human Rights Commissioner of the Republic of Azerbaijan, made these remarks during her opening speech at the International Baku Ombudsmen Summit held under the theme “Human Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Risks and Responsibilities.”

In her address, the Ombudsman emphasized that state programs and strategic documents adopted in recent years contribute to the development of artificial intelligence technologies in Azerbaijan within a safe, ethical, transparent, and human rights-based framework.

She noted that these initiatives also support the development of the digital economy, increase the efficiency and accessibility of public services, and strengthen digital equality and inclusion.

The Ombudsman further highlighted that the Digital Development Council, operating under the leadership of First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, is aimed at ensuring the unified and coordinated implementation of state policy in this important area.

Sabina Aliyeva underlined that in the modern digital era, the promotion of artificial intelligence must be accompanied by strong safeguards for human rights, transparency, accountability, and inclusivity.

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The International Baku Ombudsmen Summit, organized at the initiative of the Human Rights Commissioner of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Ombudsman), a member institution of OICOA, has begun its work in Baku.

Dedicated to June 18 — Human Rights Day in the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Summit is being held under the theme “Human Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Risks and Responsibilities.”

The event brings together heads and representatives of ombudsman institutions and national human rights institutions from nearly 30 countries, leaders and representatives of international organizations, senior officials of government agencies, representatives of civil society institutions, as well as well-known experts in the fields of artificial intelligence and human rights.

The Summit will address a wide range of topical issues, including the protection of rights in the digital environment, data protection, privacy, combating disinformation, the impact of artificial intelligence on the labor market and employment, transparency in artificial intelligence systems, fairness and equality, and the promotion of digital literacy.

The International Baku Ombudsmen Summit continues with plenary sessions. The first plenary session, moderated by Sabina Aliyeva, the Human Rights Commissioner of the Republic of Azerbaijan, is dedicated to the theme “Human Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Risks and Responsibilities.”

The Summit provides an important platform for dialogue, exchange of experience, and the development of coordinated approaches to ensuring the protection of human rights in the rapidly evolving digital era.

Chief Ombudsman of Türkiye, Mr. Mehmet Akarca, participated as a speaker at the International Baku Ombudsmen Summit held under the theme “Human Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Risks and Responsibilities,” hosted by the Ombudsman of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In his remarks, Mr. Akarca emphasized both the transformative potential and the emerging challenges of artificial intelligence. He noted that while artificial intelligence enables the more efficient use of public resources and contributes to making public services faster, more effective, and more accessible, it also introduces a range of risks and threats that require careful consideration, particularly from a human rights perspective.

Mr. Akarca further underlined the evolving role of ombudsman institutions in the digital age, stating that they are not only complaint-handling mechanisms but also key actors in fostering a culture of rights awareness within society. He highlighted that promoting understanding of digital rights and raising public awareness constitute important responsibilities of ombudsman institutions in contemporary governance.

His intervention contributed to the broader discussions of the Summit on ensuring that technological development remains aligned with fundamental human rights principles, transparency, and accountability.

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Hon’ble Mr. Arif Khan Rathore, Ombudsman Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K), along with Ms. Shazia Ashraf, Secretary, AJ&K Ombudsman Secretariat, called on Hon’ble Mr. Zafar Hijazi, Federal Tax Ombudsman of Pakistan and President of the Forum of Pakistan Ombudsman.

During the meeting, the AJ&K Ombudsman expressed deep appreciation for the pivotal role played by the Forum of Pakistan Ombudsman, and in particular by President Zafar Hijazi, in the revival of the AJ&K Ombudsman institution and in facilitating his appointment.

Hon’ble Mr. Zafar Hijazi reaffirmed his commitment to extending continued support and guidance to the AJ&K Ombudsman institution for strengthening its institutional capacity and ensuring effective public service delivery.

Mr. Almas Ali Jovindah, Executive Secretary of the Forum of Pakistan Ombudsman and OIC Ombudsman Association, was also present during the meeting.

The meeting concluded with a shared resolve to enhance institutional collaboration and further strengthen grievance redress mechanisms for improved governance and public trust.

The second meeting of the OICOA Sub-Committee on Women Rights was held in Islamabad, hosted by the Federal Ombudsperson Secretariat for Protection against Harassment.

The meeting was chaired and hosted by H.E. Fauzia Viqar, Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment, who welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional cooperation for the protection and promotion of women’s rights.

The Executive Secretary of OICOA, Mr. Almas Jovindah, also attended the meeting and appreciated the active participation of member countries in advancing the shared agenda of women’s rights, dignity, protection, and empowerment.

Participants from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Benin, Togo, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, and Pakistan joined the meeting and shared their views, experiences, and national practices regarding women’s rights and protection mechanisms.

The meeting provided an important platform for dialogue among OICOA member institutions to discuss common challenges, exchange best practices, and explore future cooperation for strengthening women’s access to justice and protection against harassment and discrimination.

The participants reaffirmed their commitment to promoting gender equality, safeguarding women’s rights, and enhancing the role of Ombudsman institutions in addressing issues faced by women across member countries.

justice ombudsman

The Police Academy under the Ministry of Internal Affairs hosted a high-level roundtable discussion titled “Human Rights in the Modern Era: Global Challenges and New Approaches”, bringing together representatives from various government institutions to examine contemporary human rights issues and evolving policy responses.

The event featured participation from Javidan Gorchiyev, Head of the Equality and Discrimination Monitoring Department at the Office of the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, who contributed as a key speaker.

During the session, Mr. Gorchiyev delivered a detailed presentation on “The Inadmissibility of Discrimination Under the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Activities of the Ombudsman in this Field.”

He elaborated on the constitutional foundations guaranteeing equality and non-discrimination, emphasizing the legal and institutional safeguards in place to protect fundamental rights. He further highlighted the role of the Ombudsman Office as an independent monitoring mechanism responsible for overseeing compliance with equality principles and addressing discrimination-related concerns.

Mr. Gorchiyev also outlined ongoing measures and operational frameworks implemented by the Ombudsman institution to strengthen human rights protection, improve accountability, and promote awareness regarding anti-discrimination standards within public administration.

The roundtable served as an important platform for inter-agency dialogue on human rights, reinforcing the significance of institutional cooperation in addressing global challenges related to equality, justice, and non-discrimination.

The Wafaqi Mohtasib (Federal Ombudsman) Mr. Naveed Kamran Baloch has launched a revamped Informal Resolution of Disputes (IRD) programme alongside a four-day online training workshop in Islamabad aimed at strengthening efficient and accessible grievance redressal mechanisms.

The initiative focuses on resolving public complaints through a dialogue-based, facilitative approach, reducing reliance on lengthy formal proceedings and promoting amicable settlements. Drawing from international Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) frameworks as well as traditional local mechanisms, the IRD programme is designed to improve administrative responsiveness, particularly for citizens in remote and underserved regions.

A dedicated IRD Wing has been established to ensure effective implementation across head and regional offices, reinforcing institutional capacity for timely and transparent resolution of grievances.

This development is aligned with broader governance improvement efforts supported by members of OICOA, emphasizing efficient public service delivery and citizen-centric administration.

On June 18, 2026, H.E. Ms. Fauzia Viqar, Pakistan’s Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment and Chairperson of the OICOA Sub-Committee on Women Rights, will formally convene the Sub-Committee’s second virtual assembly. Under Ms. Viqar's leadership, the committee members from across OIC States will engage in a rigorous review of a newly drafted comparative compendium of legislative frameworks spanning the OIC Member States. Meticulously compiled by FOSPAH, this diagnostic document is designed to synthesize institutional best practices, evaluate systemic challenges, and forge a unified path toward the advancement of women's rights. The proceedings will be joined by OICOA Executive Secretary, Mr. Almas Ali Jovindah, alongside senior officials from the OICOA Secretariat.