In Oslo, Norway, for two days in row (2-4October 2022), the 14th International Conference of Ombuds Institutions for Armed Forces is taking place (14ICOAF).

The Deputy Ombudsperson Mrs. Majlinda Lulaj and the Director of Investigation Unit, Mr. Tafil Rrahmani, are participating in this Conference, along with their colleagues invited from about 50 countries, all over the globe.

This year’s conference explores the role of Ombuds Institutions before and during armed conflicts, rights and liabilities of armed forces personnel in peacetime and cases when they support law enforcement.

Among other things, special sessions on gender equality in the armed forces were planned during the Conference; post-deployment and health rights, including the mental health of armed forces personnel, as well as the role of Ombuds institutions in relation to SDG 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions.

A special session was dedicated to the war in Ukraine and the role of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights in this country.

This year’s conference is being held as a co-organization of DCAF – Geneva Center for Security Sector Governance and the Parliamentary Ombuds Committee of the Norwegian Armed Forces.

14ICOAF is already established as an important international forum to promote and strengthen democratic oversight of the armed forces, with participants sharing common aspirations towards preventing maladministration and human rights violation.