Ombudsman wants open civic space
Ombudsman Grace Malera has called on governments and administrations in Africa and across the globe to open up civic spaces for human rights bodies and oversight institutions like the Office of the Ombudsman.
Malera said this yesterday at the ongoing second International Ombud Expo (IOE 2024) in Gaborone, Botswana, when she presented on the value that the Ombudsman work adds to democratic societies.
She said enhancing human rights , administrative and social justice is a prerequisite for functional democracies and thus called for political will in that area.
Said Malera : “As Ombudsman institutions we continue to make distinctive contributions to protection and promotion of human rights, but the increasing incidences of shrinking civic space and attacks against rights defenders including over sight institutions, personnel are cause of concern.”
She thus said there is need to build a structured response mechanism to the situation.
Malera added that there is need for duty bearers to appreciate that Ombudsman offices exist to ensure that they are responsible and responsive to the needs of the people they serve.
On other areas that need improvement, the Ombudsman decried weak referral mechanisms and a lack of strong and functional multi-sectoral referral pathways among comp laint hand l ing institutions.
Asked on what Malawi takes to the conference, Malera said: “We bring Malawi to this expo to share our stories, both the challenges and the successes.
“What one hopes to gain at the best expo are the best practices that can be replicated back home, furthering our work by building on the successes this far and how best to surmount the challenges that we meet in our day today work.”
Botswana Vice – President Slumber Tsogwane said he was excited to host the event this year.
The expo is being held under the theme: ‘Trusted Institutions: Righting Injustices, Bolstering Quality Governance.’
It has, so far, honoured Malawi’s first Ombudsman the late James Makoza Chirwa as one of the pioneers of Ombudsman work in Africa.
While the Office of the Ombudsman emerged as outstanding exhibitor, best performer and first ranked good performer
