06/10/2026
This morning at AORC–AOMA | Celebrating Ombuds Week with the IOI
More options. Stronger accountability. Innovation with integrity.
“Transparency is a process, it’s not an event.” — Prof. Manoj Maharaj
That powerful message helped frame this morning’s AORC–AOMA webinar, held in collaboration with the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) in celebration of Ombuds Week:
“Innovating for the Future: Technology, Transparency and Accountability in Ombudsman Offices.”
Ombuds Day is on 8 October. We celebrated early, on 6 October, to give AOMA members space to mark the day in their own ways, within their institutions and communities.
Connecting the theme “Ombuds: Office of Options” with technology, the webinar asked a vital question: how can innovation expand access to administrative justice while protecting the people who need it most?
Hon. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, Acting President of AOMA and Deputy Inspector General of Government of Uganda, set the tone in her opening address:
“Let us embrace innovation without compromising our integrity.”
Her call to build institutions that remain human, accessible and compassionate provided a guiding principle for the discussion.
Adv. Offer Gelbart, CRM & Business Systems Manager at the Israel Ombudsman Office, demonstrated public dashboards, complaint-tracking tools and digital communication that make transparency part of everyday service:
“Transparency builds trust between the government and the citizens.”
His presentation illustrated how making information accessible can help people follow their complaints, understand institutional performance and hold public bodies accountable.
Dra. Lutiana Valadares Fernandes Barbosa, of Brazil’s Federal Public Defender’s Office, placed human rights at the centre of AI adoption. Her account of communities facing facial-recognition barriers to social benefits showed why institutions must recognise the person behind the data:
“A system should only be adopted if it passes the human rights test.”
Her contribution highlighted the need to examine who benefits from technology, who may be excluded and whether meaningful human oversight remains in place.
Prof. Manoj Maharaj, Professor in Information Systems and Head of Discipline: Computer Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, facilitated the exchange and offered a clear test for responsible innovation:
“Responsible innovation begins where technology expands the public’s options without reducing the institution’s responsibility.”
The discussion explored practical realities: confidentiality, digital inclusion, human oversight and affordable tools for offices facing infrastructure and budget constraints. A question from Uganda brought these implementation challenges into focus, prompting consideration of further learning and support.
Delivering the closing remarks and vote of thanks, Adv. Kholeka Gcaleka, Chairperson of the AORC Board and Public Protector South Africa, reminded participants:
“The work of the Ombudsman is, at its core, fundamentally about people.”
She also emphasised the responsibility of oversight institutions to practise the accountability they expect from others:
“We cannot demand accountability from the state while failing to practice it within our own walls. We must lead by example.”
Adv. Gcaleka proposed further engagement on the implementation challenges raised by Uganda, helping carry the conversation towards practical institutional action.
The webinar attracted 439 registrations from 65 countries and territories. The Zoom attendance report recorded 211 unique viewers, with a peak concurrent audience of 180.
Thank you to our speakers, facilitator, institutional leaders and participants for an engaging exchange. Your feedback and calls for further learning encourage us to keep this conversation going.
As 8 October approaches, we celebrate Ombudsman and Mediator institutions—and the meaningful options they offer people seeking fairness, a hearing and redress.
Innovation should widen those options while keeping people, integrity and accountability at the centre.
