21 October 2026 – The Ombudsperson’s Institution of the Republic of Kosovo, represented by Deputy Ombudsperson Ms. Majlinda Sinani Lulaj, is participating in the 18th International Conference of Ombuds Institutions for the Armed Forces (#18ICOAF), taking place in Sydney, Australia.

The conference, co-organised by DCAF and the Inspector-General of the Australian Defense Force, brings together more than 100 participants from around the world.

The conference proceedings were preceded by a reception at Government House, hosted by the Governor of New South Wales (NSW), Ms. Margaret Beazley.

This year’s conference, held over two consecutive days, focused on the role, oversight and preparedness of military ombuds institutions in an evolving geostrategic environment.

The geopolitical context, the impact of increased defense spending, and technological developments, including artificial intelligence and autonomous systems in the military, were highlighted as some of the key factors reshaping armed forces and the frameworks governing them.

In light of these developments, oversight institutions, including ombuds institutions with general oversight mandates and commissioners with specific mandates to oversee the armed forces, face challenges in their efforts to safeguard the necessary balance between security, transparency and accountability. These are essential prerequisites for the enjoyment, respect and protection of human rights.

In the context of the conference, particular emphasis was also placed on the working conditions and well-being of uniformed personnel, amid multiple changes in the working environment in which they perform their daily duties.

Perspectives from different regional, political and military contexts provided a platform for exchanging experiences and lessons learned, with a view to exploring how oversight can respond effectively to an evolving security environment.