WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao is set to make history next week as it becomes the first Caribbean island to host the world board meeting of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), bringing together leading ombudsman institutions from across the globe.
The high-level gathering will take place from May 10 to 14 and will position Curaçao at the center of international discussions on government accountability, citizen rights and public oversight.
The event is being organized by Curaçao Ombudsman Keursly Concincion, who will serve as host to the international delegations.
Concincion has been a member of the IOI world board since 2019 and, since 2024, has held the position of regional president for the Caribbean and Latin America within the institute.
The decision to bring the global board meeting to Curaçao was made during the previous IOI board session in Morocco, highlighting the island’s growing role in international ombudsman cooperation.
Founded in 1978, the International Ombudsman Institute unites more than 200 independent ombudsman institutions from over 100 countries.
The organization focuses on strengthening oversight institutions, protecting citizens against maladministration and promoting transparency and good governance worldwide.
For Curaçao, hosting the meeting is seen as both symbolic and strategic.
It places the island on the international map as a center for institutional dialogue and governance reform, while also offering local institutions an opportunity to connect directly with global experts on accountability and public administration.
The gathering is expected to address major international challenges facing ombudsman institutions, including institutional independence, citizens’ rights and evolving governance standards.
For Curaçao’s Ombudsman office, the event marks a major milestone in its international profile and could further strengthen the island’s position in regional governance discussions.