It is with great honour that I welcome all of you to Malta and to the Presidential Palace, on the thirtieth (30) anniversary of the establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman in Malta.
This significant milestone provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on three decades of unwavering commitment to protecting citizens’ rights by the Maltese Ombudsman.
The Office of the Ombudsman, under the guidance of Ombudsman Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon, is marking this significant occasion with an international conference, highlighting the importance of maintaining good governance during challenging times and seeking to discuss the future course for Ombudsman institutions, both in Malta and worldwide.
Since its inception in 1995, with the enactment of the Ombudsman Act 1995 (Cap. 385 of the Laws of Malta), the Office of the Ombudsman in Malta has served as an impartial guardian of fairness for the public, ensuring that grievances against public administration are justly administered.
The manner in which the Public Service and administrative systems have evolved over the years has resulted in a complex and intricate structure that necessitates robust checks and balances to ensure effective operation and prevent not only abuse of power, but also misuse of power – Administrative actions which, not only by commission, but at times, also by omission, result in prejudice to the detriment of the ordinary citizen. Furthermore, our two-party, highly polarised political environment adds another layer of potential challenges.
The Ombudsman’s Office’s steadfast dedication to impartiality and integrity has laid the groundwork for an institution capable of resisting political lobbies and pressures.
Before nineteen ninety-five (1995), citizens wishing to challenge maladministration faced fragmented and opaque systems, with few independent avenues for recourse. The establishment of this office marked a pivotal step forward.
For many citizens, this institution has not simply translated itself into a mechanism for lodging complaints, but it is a protector of citizens’ rights, often the only practically accessible bastion of justice for the aggrieved and the vulnerable. This is especially so, since recourse to the Ombudsman’s office does not entail the forking out of legal and court fees involved in cases before the Courts, disbursements which may not be within the means of all citizens.
Furthermore, the formalised approach before the courts, most often, is accompanied by delays before judgment is delivered – The Ombudsman’s approach is swifter and more pragmatic, sometimes even cutting corners where certain cases are resolved at the very initial stage by the intervention of the Ombudsman himself personally.
The Ombudsman’s work today is supported by a cadre of specialised Commissioners and experts focused on sectors such as health, the environment, planning, and education.
This approach ensures that complaints are handled with the necessary technical expertise and care, improving the thoroughness and credibility of investigations while also increasing the institution’s reach and impact.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your presence here today for this two-day conference showcases your collective commitment to upholding good governance in challenging times and reinforces an awareness of the critical role Ombudsman institutions play in strengthening the social fabric of our communities.
Ombudsman institutions not only form part of the system of checks and balances, operating in a democracy, but, over and above other democratic tools, they place more weight on the element of balance between the citizen and the wielder of power and, above all, it offers redress.
However, regarding the redress offered, this depends to a great extent on the attitudes of the authorities and their and their adoption of the Ombudsman’s recommendations. In fact, there is a subtle link between an effective Ombudsman Institution and the faith of the Public in the effectiveness of its recommendations. Perception regarding the very validity of the Institution hinges a lot on whether these recommendations are taken up and implemented by the government and its agencies.
Also, tied up with this is the onus on the government to provide adequate funding to ensure an efficient operational setup. In fact, one can say that the democratic goodwill of the government is a necessary element in having a robust and effective Ombudsman Institution, which fulfils its purpose in the democratic setup.
Since Sweden established an Office of the Ombudsman in eighteen and nine (1809), the institution has expanded globally, increasing from a handful of countries to over two hundred (200) institutions across 100 (one hundred) countries by twenty twenty-five (2025). The European Union also acknowledged the importance of such an institution by establishing the first supranational Ombudsman in nineteen ninety-five (1995) under the Maastricht Treaty.
In every context across the globe, this Office represents an independent, yet accessible public entity vested with extensive investigative power, serving as a vital intermediary between citizens and the state to protect the public’s right to fairness and equitable treatment, upholding impartiality in administrative practices as well as fairness in policy implementation. It is a bulwark of citizen rights, giving credence to standards of good governance, safeguarding the rule of law at a micro level.
The very term ombudsman, rooted in the Scandinavian tradition, signifies a ‘representative of the people,’ underscoring its essence as a bridge between the citizen and authority.
I think it is pertinent to refer to resolution one hundred and seventy seven (177) of the seventy ninth (79th)session, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on the 17th December 2024. This resolution underscores the critical function of independent bodies in promoting good governance, the rule of law, and human rights, whilst acknowledging the Venice principles on the protection and promotion of such institutions.
The same resolution encourages Ombudsmen and mediator institutions to share best practices on their work and functioning, and encourages active engagement with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Ombudsman Institute, the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions and other regional networks.
This two-day international conference, held alongside the thirtieth (30th) Anniversary celebrations, promotes the exchange of perspectives as it brings together Ombudsmen from the Association of Mediterranean Ombudsmen, the International Ombudsmen Institute (IOI) Europe Region, and the International Ombudsmen Institute (IOI) World Board, among other esteemed delegates.
Most importantly, it provides a distinct platform for discussion, knowledge sharing, and reflection on the key pillars that address the present, including the challenges to human rights and democracy, as well as those that prepare us for the future, such as the lively debates on how to strengthen integrity and the role of ethical digitalisation and artificial intelligence.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The institution of the Ombudsman has to continue evolving and developing. Present day administration includes emerging areas such as data privacy, environmental care, and the setting-up of new public-private service models. Hence, institution must remain agile, if it is to continue ensuring that citizens’ voices are not lost in the complexities of modern governance.
I urge all of you to seize this opportunity to discuss how to strengthen further this important institution for the benefit of all our respective citizens. This occasion should serve to further strengthen and enhance the principles of democracy and fairness in your respective systems.
In conclusion, I wish to convey my gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the Malta Office’s work over the past thirty (30) years. I also extend my best wishes to the current Ombudsman team in their ongoing efforts to protect the rights of our people.
