Parliamentary Ombudsman participates in Council of Europe ON Forum in Strasbourg

Parliamentary Ombudsman participates in Council of Europe ON Forum in Strasbourg

Published February 13, 2026

The Parliamentary Ombudsman of Malta, Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon, participated in the second edition of the Council of Europe High Level Conference with Ombudsperson Institutions and National Human Rights Institutions, known as the Council of Europe ON Forum. The conference was held at the Council of Europe premises in Strasbourg, France.

This year’s forum was organised under the auspices of the Moldovan Presidency of the Committee of Ministers and co organised by the European Court of Human Rights and the Directorate General for Human Rights and Rule of Law within the framework of the Council of Europe’s New Democratic Pact for Europe.

The conference focused on the vital role of Ombudsperson institutions and National Human Rights Institutions in safeguarding democracy and protecting fundamental rights. Discussions addressed a number of pressing challenges affecting democratic governance, including foreign interference in democratic processes, the erosion of checks and balances, and the involvement of youth in democratic life.

Participants underlined that foreign interference in democratic processes threatens human rights by undermining the integrity of democratic institutions and weakening the ability of societies to exercise self-determination through free and fair governance. The erosion of checks and balances was also highlighted as a risk to the rule of law, as the weakening of institutional safeguards can lead to the concentration of power and reduce the protection afforded to fundamental rights. At the same time, youth involvement was recognised as essential for the protection of human rights, since informed and engaged younger generations play a crucial role in sustaining democratic participation and safeguarding freedoms.

During his intervention, Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon emphasised the importance of outreach and education carried out by institutions such as the Ombudsman in engaging with younger generations. He referred to initiatives undertaken by the Office of the Ombudsman in Malta, including educational talks delivered in secondary schools to raise awareness among students about governance, the rule of law and perpons’ rights, with the aim of encouraging active participation in democratic life.

The Ombudsman also referred to the collaboration between the Office of the Ombudsman, the Faculty of Laws and the Department of Policy, Politics and Governance at the University of Malta in establishing a Master’s degree programme in Ombudsman Law and Governance, which commenced last year.

The conference brought together representatives from Ombudsman institutions, National Human Rights Institutions, the Council of Europe and other experts to exchange views and experiences on strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring the continued protection of human rights in an evolving international environment.