Ombudsman Dr. Nilda Arduin recently attended a Conference of the Latin American Ombudsman Institute (ILO) in Cali Colombia. The importance of this event for the Ombudsman of Sint Maarten is marked by various resolutions taken at the Conference and a subsequent Membership meeting. Together with the Ombudsman of Curacao, President of the CAROA, Alba Martijn, and the IOI Regional Director of the Latin American/Caribbean Region, Lynette Stephenson, Ombudsman of Trinidad, these Ombudsmen of the Caribbean region were formally accepted as Members of the ILO. Membership of the ILO not only broadens exchange and network possibilities with Ombudsmen of the Latin American region, but provides direct access to University reports of researches regarding issues valuable to Ombudsmen of the region.
Dr. Arduin together with the recently deceased Ombudsman of Santa Fe, Argentina, Dr. Edgardo Bistoletti, has been instrumental in bringing the two regions together. This resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between the ILO and CAROA, signed at the Cali Conference. Recognizing the importance of cooperation between the two regions, a personal translator for Dr. Arduin, available for the entire Conference and ILO meeting, was sponsored by the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI). Dr. Arduin is a Director of the Latin American and Caribbean Region on the IOI Board.
Important Declarations and Resolutions for Sint Maarten of the Cali Conference, which will strengthen the local Ombudsman institution, are among others: that the experience accumulated by the Institutions of the Ombudsman in Latin America and the Caribbean has highlighted the validity of the need, as well as aspects of the Ombudsman institution that require consideration, research and study; ILO will study the possibility of undertaking joint projects in specific areas among Latin American institutions and the Ombudsman of the Caribbean to favor better reciprocal knowledge and facilitate integration in the work; in consideration of the need to deepen the study of the Institution of the Ombudsman, ILO ratifies its commitment to promote agreements with public and private universities in order to create academic spaces with courses, seminars, and specialized chairs with said purpose; ILO shall continue to support all initiatives in favor of increasing the participation of civil society organizations, not only to have greater impact on public politics, but also in the appointment of officials whose mission is to defend the rights of people.
In 2013 IOI allocated a grant of 35.000 euro for the Latin American/Caribbean region for Ombudsman training in the region to which staff of the Ombudsman Sint Maarten is to attend. The next IOI Board meeting, which will be attended by Dr. Arduin, takes place in October 2014 in Vienna.
