Performance record The AOB is also responsible for OPCAT in Tyrol and for federal matters in Tyrol and Vorarlberg; in this sense, it is an “ombudsman of the Laender” too. Sensitisation to human rights protection The AOB has held the NPM mandate for the preventive protection of human rights and human dignity for five years. One finding from this period of time is very important to me: the work of the commissions is becoming increasingly prominent and highly regarded both with those responsible in the institutions and with the general public. In this way, it is possible to successively build a broader basis for human rights protection. Arguably, the most central task and important goal of the AOB as the “Human Rights House of the Republic” is the sensitisation of the population to the problems and issues regarding human rights protection. We have made considerable progress in this area: years ago, human rights protection in Austria was seen as a concern of individual, committed activists and claimed by experts “ex cathedra” to a certain extent. The AOB also mastered a large number of international challenges in the year under review. I would like to mention the IOI World Conference in Bangkok as an example. international presence and responsibility Thanks to the support of the Austrian embassy in Thailand, we were able to hold a successful conference in spite of the sensitive political situation – military coup, human rights deficits, emotions after the death of the monarch. As IOI Secretary General, I held very open talks with NGOs such as Amnesty International Thailand, Human Rights Watch and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. We also emphasised the principles of the IOI – democracy, the rule of law and human rights protection – within the framework of a press conference and by adopting a “Bangkok Declaration”. I am confident that a considerable contribution to the imminent return to democratic structures was made in this way.
 In terms of content, we as the Austrian Ombudsman Board were able to set standards in addition to the organisational responsibility as IOI headquarters. A short film thankfully produced by ORF in English about the TV programme “BürgerAnwalt” (“Advocate for the People”) generated great interest on the part of ombudspersons from all over the world. The idea and the impetus to gain prominence, enforcement powers and a preventive effect through the permanent presence of an ombudsman institution in the media is arguably one of the most important IOI projects. On its 40th anniversary, we see the AOB as a nationally and internationally recognised institution. My colleagues and I, and all our staff are however acutely aware that the confidence of the people, the respect of politics and administration and the international reputation have to be earned afresh every single day. 30