Luanda - The Angolan ombudswoman Florbela Araújo Tuesday in Kigali (Rwanda) defended the integrity, impartiality and dignity as values for strengthening ombudsman offices in Africa.
The Angolan ombudswoman made the call, while addressing the 7th General Assembly of the African Ombudsmen and Mediators Association (AOMA) on the dilemmas of ethics in the role of the ombudsman and how these principles guide the activity of ombudsmen.
The Angolan ombudswoman appealed to African ombudsmen to be "the first to denounce any practice of corruption, nepotism, fraud, easy profit, insubordination, influence peddling and others incompatible with the ethical and deontological values of ombudsmen.
Florbela Araújo spoke of the Code of Ethics and Deontology of the Angolan Ombudsman approved in November, which establishes the principles and rules of ethics and deontology applicable to the administrative relations of the ombudsman, the deputy ombudsman, the officials and administrative agents of the ombudsman's office in their relations with citizens and other institutions.
The Angolan ombudswoman added that the ethical dilemmas can represent conflicts of duty, which arise in situations where two standards clash, such as cases where it is difficult to make the "right" decision, when any action could pose a violation of the moral principle.
The event being attended by Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Gambia and Seychelles is expected to elect the members of the AOMA's Executive Committee on Wednesday.
The Central African Republic, Gabon, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Egypt and Burundi are also taking part of the event. VC/AMP
