Parliamentary Ombudsman of Malta participates in 25th Anniversary commemorations of the Albanian Ombudsman Institution

Parliamentary Ombudsman of Malta participates in 25th Anniversary commemorations of the Albanian Ombudsman Institution

Published June 25, 2025

The Parliamenary Ombudsman together with the Speaker of Parliament of Albania, H.E. Elisa Spiropali

The Parliamentary Ombudsman, Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon, is participating in the official celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Advocate (Ombudsman) of Albania. The events are being hosted in Tirana by the Ombudsman of Albania, Ms Erinda Ballanca, and include a high-level international conference under the theme “National and International Structures to Protect Human Rights: Good Practices and Lessons Learned.”

The Ombudsman is his capacity as a Director on the European Regional Board of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) is representing the board. He is also participating as Secretary General and Treasurer of the Association of Mediterranean Ombudsmen (AOM). During the international conference, Judge Zammit McKeon will deliver a speech in the opening session, reflecting on the role of Ombudsman institutions in promoting good governance, the rule of law, and human rights.

The celebrations began with a commemorative ceremony at the Palace of the Brigades, the official Presidential Palace of Albania. The event was addressed by the Speaker of the Albanian Parliament, H.E. Elisa Spiropali, and by the People’s Advocate of Albania, Ms Erinda Ballanca. The ceremony served both as a symbolic moment of national reflection and as a reaffirmation of the Ombudsman’s institutional importance in defending democratic values.

Established in 2000 following constitutional reforms in 1998, the People’s Advocate has become a central pillar in Albania’s human rights framework. Over the past 25 years, the institution has played a crucial role in defending the rights and freedoms of individuals, particularly in cases of unlawful or unjust actions by public administration. The Ombudsman of Albania acts both on the basis of individual complaints and on his or her own initiative, with the consent of the person concerned, in cases of systemic concern or media-reported incidents.

The anniversary programme includes an international conference that has drawn participation from representatives of constitutional and governmental institutions, ombudsman offices across Europe and the Mediterranean, human rights organisations, and international bodies. The event provides a valuable forum for peer exchange, institutional reflection, and the identification of shared challenges and best practices across jurisdictions.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman together with Fr. Bernard Caruana OP, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Albania