Parliamentary Ombudsman addresses conference on the establishment of a Public Defender for Sicily

Parliamentary Ombudsman addresses conference on the establishment of a Public Defender for Sicily

Published July 10, 2026

The Parliamentary Ombudsman of Malta and Vice President of the European Regional Board of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon, addressed a conference in Palermo dedicated to the role and future of the Public Defender in Sicily. The conference, entitled Il Difensore Civico che manca: il caso Sicilia, was held in the Sala Piersanti Mattarella at the Palazzo dei Normanni, seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly.

The event was organised by the Coordinamento Nazionale dei Difensori Civici, together with the Conference of Presidents of Regional Legislative Assemblies and the Sicilian Regional Assembly. It was opened by Dr Marino Fardelli, Public Defender of the Lazio Region and National Coordinator of the Coordinamento Nazionale dei Difensori Civici.

In his opening remarks, Dr Fardelli described the Public Defender as an essential guarantee for citizens, for the transparency of public administration and for the quality of democracy. He stressed the importance of establishing such an institution in Sicily to strengthen the protection of citizens' rights and improve the relationship between the public and public authorities.

The conference brought together Public Defenders from across the Italian regions, academics, members of the judiciary, politicians, legal practitioners and representatives of public institutions. Discussions focused on the role of Ombudsman institutions in safeguarding citizens' rights, promoting transparency and accountability, and strengthening democratic participation. Participants also exchanged national and European experiences on non judicial mechanisms for the protection of rights and explored opportunities for greater cooperation between Ombudsman institutions.

Addressing the conference, Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon emphasised that the absence of a Public Defender in Sicily is not simply an institutional gap but an issue that directly affects democratic governance and the protection available to citizens. He argued that an independent Ombudsman strengthens, rather than weakens, public administration by promoting transparency, accountability and good administration. In increasingly complex public administrations, he noted, citizens need an accessible and impartial institution capable of addressing complaints, identifying systemic shortcomings and encouraging improvements in the delivery of public services.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman also stressed that any future Public Defender for Sicily should enjoy strong guarantees of institutional independence, both in law and in practice. He highlighted the importance of transparent appointment procedures, security of tenure, financial autonomy and an appropriate institutional relationship with regional authorities to ensure public confidence in the office. He observed that independent oversight should never be viewed as a limitation on public authorities but rather as an essential element of democratic governance that enhances the legitimacy and credibility of public institutions.

Looking beyond Sicily, the Parliamentary Ombudsman reiterated that Italy would benefit from establishing a national Ombudsman working alongside the regional Public Defenders in a complementary and coordinated manner. Referring to successful European models, particularly Spain, he explained that national and regional Ombudsman institutions can coexist while respecting regional autonomy and strengthening the protection of citizens' rights. He concluded that the creation of a Public Defender in Sicily would provide citizens with an additional guarantee of fairness and accountability, while a national Ombudsman would further reinforce the overall system of democratic oversight and the rule of law throughout Italy.

Among those addressing the conference were Hon. Emanuele Dipasquale, Deputy Quaestor of the Sicilian Regional Assembly, Hon. Stefano Balleari, President of the Regional Council of Liguria, and Mr Zoran Pašalić, Ombudsman of Serbia. The speakers shared their respective national and regional experiences on the role of Ombudsman institutions in safeguarding citizens' rights and promoting good administration. They expressed broad support for the establishment of a Public Defender in Sicily, recognising it as an important step towards strengthening institutional safeguards, enhancing transparency, and providing citizens with an independent and accessible mechanism for the protection of their rights.

The conference concluded by reaffirming the importance of Ombudsman institutions as pillars of democratic governance, contributing to more transparent, accountable and citizen-centred public administrations while strengthening cooperation between regional, national and European oversight bodies.