Upholding Good Governance in Challenging Times: The Role of the Ombudsman 

On Thursday, October 16, David Bondia presented the European project Innovative and Inclusive Democratic Spaces for Deliberation and Participation (iDEM), in which the Barcelona Ombudsman Office participates.

Under the title “Embracing Technological Innovation: The Role of the Ombudsman in the Age of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence”, Mr. Bondia presented the iDEM project, which sparked great interest among the attendees and prompted several qüestions. Mr. Bondia also addressed the challenges posed by these changes and the best ways to incorporate new tools to facilitate access to information and improve transparency in processes.

The Ombudsman emphasized that “we must be prepared to adapt to rapidly changing social, political, and technological environments, as we are experiencing today, while keeping the principles of good governance as a priority. In this way, and through participation in projects like iDEM, we contribute to promoting a more inclusive democracy, where technology serves citizen participation and social justice.”

The presentation took place at the international conference “Upholding Good Governance in Challenging Times: The Role of the Ombudsman”, held to mark the 30th anniversary of the Maltese Ombudsman Office. The Barcelona Ombudsman Office was the only local institution to participate, as the rest were regional or national. The official commemoration event (reception and ceremony) took  place on the evening of October 15 at the President’s Palace in Valletta, with the presence of the President of Malta, Myriam Spiteri Debono. You can read more about the event here.

Image: Office of the Ombudsman – Malta