Published August 26, 2025
Published August 26, 2025
The Parliamentary Ombudsman, Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon, in his capacity as Secretary General and Treasurer of the Association of Mediterranean Ombudsmen (AOM), participated in a meeting of the Association’s Governing Board Executive Committee.
The AOM provides an institutional framework linking Ombudsman and mediator institutions, as well as national human rights bodies in the Mediterranean region. Its mission is to promote and protect fundamental rights, to encourage cooperation among members, and to foster stronger ties with European and international partners. The Association also serves as a platform for sharing experiences, exchanging good practices, and strengthening the visibility and role of Ombudsman institutions across the Mediterranean basin.
This meeting marked the first committee session chaired by Ms Erinda Ballanca, Ombudsman of Albania, in her capacity as newly elected President of the Association. In her opening remarks, Ms Ballanca expressed her gratitude for being entrusted with the role for a second time, underlining that the values of the AOM should guide its members: promoting awareness of the Ombudsman’s role, exchanging experiences, sharing research and knowledge, and cooperating with other institutions and organisations with similar objectives.
The agenda of the Executive Committee focused on administrative matters of the Association, including the programme of activities for 2026, as well as preparations for the upcoming General Assembly of the AOM, which will be hosted in Malta in October 2025 on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Maltese Ombudsman institution.
Judge Zammit McKeon, in his role as Secretary General, delivered a presentation on the composition of the new Governing Board, outlined the proposals for AOM initiatives in 2026, and provided an update on the preparations for the International Ombudsman Conference and the AOM General Assembly to be held in Malta.
The meeting was attended by President Erinda Ballanca, People’s Advocate of Albania; First Vice-President Ms Maria Stylianou-Lottides, Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights (Ombudsman) of Cyprus; and Second Vice-President Dr Tamar Gvaramadze, First Deputy Public Defender of Georgia.
Please Wait
Processing
Operation Completed