International Activities International Ombudsman Institute (I.O.I) The relocation of the General Secretariat of the International Ombudsman Institute (I.O.I.) from the University of Alberta, Canada to the headquarters of the AOB has been pursued since the end of 2007 and completed in 2009. This change will enable the I.O.I. to meet the growing needs of its members for coordination, exchange of information and networking and to raise its profile even more as a partner for global cooperation among the independent ombudsman offices. General Secretariat The I.O.I. was established in 1978 as an independent and non-partisan organisation in Edmonton. It is structured in six regional groups – Africa, Asia, Australia & Pacific Islands, Caribbean & Latin America, as well as North America and Europe – and currently has about 150 members from 75 countries. Since September 2009, this association of local, regional and national ombudsman offices and boards, which is the only organisation acting worldwide, has had the status of an international NGO recognised by the Austrian state and is managed by the new General Secretariat in Vienna. The position of Secretary General of the I.O.I., which pursuant to the by-laws is held by one of the three members of the AOB, is held by Ombudsperson Peter Kostelka. He is assisted in fulfilling his international responsibilities by three full-time staff members. Ombudsman The decision on the relocation was made by the General Assembly of the I.O.I. during the IX. World Conference of the International Ombudsman Institute in June 2009 in Stockholm. This positive result for Austria is due to the active commitment of all three members of the AOB. Ombudsperson Gertrude Brinek, Ombudsperson Terezija Stoisits and Ombudsperson Peter Kostelka were all in Stockholm and showed themselves united in their interest in a relocation of the headquarters of the I.O.I. to Vienna. The broadly based political support from the head of state, the federal government, the National Council, the Federal Council, and the City of Vienna also played a decisive role. Additionally the application by the AOB satisfied all the criteria of the selection process with regard to personnel, space, and financial requirements for the General Secretariat. Broadly based now in Vienna Kostelka is I.O.I. Secretary General support 23