President Jacob Zuma will address the launch of the African Ombudsman Research Centre (AORC) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Howard College Theatre on 15 March 2011 at 13h30.
Accordingly, the launch will start at 12h15 and not 14h00 as communicated earlier. The AORC is a resource of the African Ombudsman and Mediators' Association (AOMA), a body that works to entrench good governance in governments, upholding of the rule of law and respect for human rights by supporting, developing and protecting the independence of ombudsman institutions across the continent.
The centre will be responsible for creating awareness about the existence of ombudsman institutions, generating, preserving and disseminating information on issues related to the ombudsman institution and researching trends and practices that have to do with this institution in Africa.
It will also provide training, research support and advocacy services to AOMA. The centre will further seek to promote the ideals and independence of ombudsman institutions and engage with relevant international bodies such as the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) on issues of good governance and the role of the ombudsman institution.
Heads of 36 ombudsman institutions, which are members of AOMA, led by the body's President and Ombudsman of Angola, Paulo Tjipilica, have descended on South Africa for the event.
Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela is AOMA's Executive Secretary after South Africa was re-elected to the position during the third General Assembly of the association in Luanda, Angola in April last year.
For more information contact:
Oupa Segalwe
Cell: 072 264 3273
