International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) president Chris Field on Monday was awarded the First Grade Control Yuan Medal at a ceremony at the Control Yuan in Taipei.
Control Yuan President Chen Chu (陳菊), who presented the medal, said it was to honor Field for his long-term commitment and contributions toward Australia's domestic and international supervisory affairs.
Photo: Yang Cheng-yu, Taipei Times
The Control Yuan and the Ombudsman Western Australia (OWA) are both Australasia and Pacific members of the IOI, and as such are both committed to promoting good governance and the protection of human rights in the region, Chu said.
Field, who became head of the OWA in 2007, entered his fourth term in the role last year, and was awarded the Australian Public Service Medal in February this year.
In his speech after receiving the medal, Field discussed the OWA’s evolution, and its current role in supporting the Human Rights Commissioner of the Ukrainian Parliament, the Haitian ombudsman in its fight against criminal violence, and its assistance to refugees, and in funding Pakistan’s watchdog in combating malnutrition, among other efforts.
Field is to visit the Jing-Mei White Terror Memorial Park, as well as Hakka and indigenous communities to learn about the development of human-rights protections in Taiwan, and to explore possibilities for deepened exchanges with Australia, he said.
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