ROME: Honourable Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment, Ms. Fauzia Viqar, represented Pakistan at the two-day International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) Conference held at the Italian Parliament in Rome on May 28โ29, 2026. The conference brought together ombuds institutions and global stakeholders to discuss emerging governance challenges and the protection of citizensโ rights in an increasingly digital world.
Speaking during the opening session titled โNew Global Challenges: Complex Administrations, Digitalisation and Citizensโ Rights,โ Ms. Fauzia Viqar highlighted the growing risks posed by digital technologies, including deepfakes, manipulated images, voice cloning, and synthetic explicit content that are increasingly being used to harass, intimidate, and silence women.
She emphasized the importance of secure evidence submission mechanisms, early preservation of digital material, strict confidentiality protocols, and coordinated engagement with relevant authorities to ensure effective protection of victims and safeguard citizensโ rights in the digital age.
The Federal Ombudsperson noted that the Rome Declaration provides an important framework for strengthening institutional capacity and enhancing cooperation among ombuds institutions in responding to emerging governance and technological challenges.
Highlighting Pakistanโs legislative progress, Ms. Fauzia Viqar informed participants that the Government of Pakistan amended its anti-harassment law in 2022 to extend legal protections to freelancers, gig workers, domestic and home-based workers, interns, apprentices, students, and remote and online workers.
She further shared Pakistanโs experience through the Federal Ombudsperson Secretariat for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH), noting that ongoing efforts in digital governance and institutional reform demonstrate both the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation in a developing democracy.
Ms. Fauzia Viqar stressed the need for stronger safeguards, enhanced accountability, and modern institutional tools to ensure that digitalisation leads to faster, safer, and more accessible justice for citizens.
The address concluded with a call for continued international cooperation and institutional commitment to strengthening justice systems and protecting citizensโ rights in the digital era.
