Manila, 10–12 March 2026 – Representatives of the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ) Ambrosio Graciano Soares, Teresinha Ximenes, Olga Vilanova Sequeira, and Margarida dos Santos, took part in the first Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) of the Southeast Asian Ombudsman Forum (SEAOF), held in Manila, the Philippines.
Over the three-day meeting, the PDHJ delegation, alongside other SEAOF members, actively engaged in discussions on the Forum’s foundational documents. Participants evaluated the initial capacity-building program, reviewed the preliminary findings of a comparative study, and contributed to the development of SEAOF’s strategic plan.
Discussions focused on defining the Forum’s strategic direction and refining its core priorities, taking into account the early results of the comparative study. Members deliberated on whether to retain existing focus areas or prioritize new opportunities for regional collaboration. The meeting also included strategic visioning exercises aimed at shaping SEAOF’s identity, articulating a shared vision, and identifying potential initiatives for inclusion in the strategic plan.
The session enabled updates and refinements to key documents and prior agreements, incorporating new insights gained during the planning process. The SOM also outlined immediate next steps in preparation for the upcoming SEAOF Principals’/Leaders’ Meeting, scheduled for June 2026.
As part of the program, SEAOF members took part in a video session where they shared reflections on their experiences in Manila, as well as their perspectives both as country representatives and as citizens. Members also conveyed messages of support and collaboration to the Ombudsman of the Philippines in its dual role as Chair and as a fellow SEAOF member.
The Southeast Asian Ombudsman Forum (SEAOF) is a regional platform bringing together ombudsman institutions and public complaint bodies across Southeast Asia. It aims to strengthen the legal mandates of its members, promote a unified voice on regional public interest matters, and develop coordinated mechanisms for handling public complaints within member jurisdictions.
The Provedor dos Direitos Humanos e Justiça (PDHJ) of Timor-Leste became a full member of SEAOF on 7 November 2023, during the SEAOF Leaders’ Meeting held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
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