Could you share a bit more on your background, in particular your past links with our EMA Global Campus Europe programme, and your current position of European Ombudsman?
My connection with the EMA Global Campus Europe programme dates back to 1997, when I completed the European Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation, carrying out the second semester at the University of Maastricht. This experience was instrumental in preparing me for the operational demands of daily work in international organisations, field operations, governmental and non-governmental bodies, and academia.
One year later, I became a trainee in the European Parliament and subsequently in the European Commission. I hold a law degree from the University of Coimbra and I am a PhD candidate at the NOVA School of Law, with my studies currently suspended due to public office responsibilities. Alongside publishing several scientific papers, I have lectured at NOVA School of Law and at the Ius Gentium Conimbrigae Institute of the University of Coimbra.
My professional career has been deeply rooted in human rights, public international law, gender, and equality. I served as a Member of Parliament in Portugal (2011–2015), Secretary of State for Justice (2015), and Deputy Ombudsperson of Portugal (2017–2022). From 2022 to 2025, I was a Member of the Supervisory Committee of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).
Since 27 February 2025, I have been serving as the European Ombudswoman, responsible for investigating maladministration within the institutions, bodies, offices, and agencies of the European Union.
What is the importance of human rights education networks like the Global Campus of Human Rights to solve the current urgent problems in your field?
Human rights education networks such as the Global Campus of Human Rights are essential to addressing the complex and urgent challenges we face today. They create a community of informed, engaged, and ethically grounded individuals who are ready to act for justice and human rights across borders. The Global Campus plays a particularly important role in cultivating the next generation of professionals who not only defend human dignity but who also think critically, work collaboratively, and understand the systemic nature of the problems ahead.
From my personal experience, being part of this network—building on my Erasmus journey—shaped me profoundly. It made me a better human being, a better lawyer, and ultimately a better public servant. It gave me the intellectual tools and moral grounding to navigate demanding roles in public life, and later, to serve as European Ombudswoman.
Today, facing issues such as shrinking civic space, disinformation, threats to the rule of law, and increasing public distrust in institutions, we need professionals who are not only knowledgeable but also empathetic, resilient, and globally minded. Networks like the Global Campus provide exactly that: a space where values, expertise, and a commitment to human rights are cultivated together. They are indispensable partners in strengthening democratic governance and ensuring that human rights remain at the heart of European public administration.
Please tell us more about the priorities of your office and the challenges you will need to address?
Recently, I published my Strategy for the next four years, titled “Building Trust, Driving Change.” It is structured around three main pillars.
The first pillar focuses on truly listening to citizens and addressing their complaints. By prioritising individual concerns, we strengthen trust in the EU administration and encourage greater public engagement with our Office. Helping people resolve their issues is — and will remain — at the very core of our mandate.
The second pillar concerns the strategic use of our own-initiative powers. These tools enable us to act proactively when systemic or emerging challenges arise within the EU administration. To craft effective and lasting solutions, we sometimes need to step back: to examine both the legal and ethical frameworks in place, and the practical realities that shape how the administration functions.
The third pillar is dedicated to building strong partnerships. Assisting citizens is a shared responsibility, and to be truly effective, we must foster continuous dialogue and close cooperation with institutions, civil society, academia, and national ombudsman offices.
The challenges ahead are considerable. Over the last five years alone, we have witnessed extraordinary developments: a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, the return of full-scale warfare to the European continent, and a gradual erosion of global commitment to the rules-based international order. At the same time, our planet has endured devastating droughts, forest fires, and floods; public debate has been increasingly polluted by misinformation and conspiracy theories; and citizens and businesses have been confronted with the societal and economic implications of profound technological change, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence.
Periods of upheaval are not new to humanity. What is different today is the unprecedented speed and complexity of change. Societal and technological development has been accelerating for centuries, but in recent years we have reached an inflection point — one where the pace and interconnectedness of these transformations are putting traditional models of governance under significant strain.
This is precisely why the work of the European Ombudsman matters so much: ensuring that EU administration remains transparent, accountable, ethical, and responsive is essential to maintaining public trust in a time when trust is both fragile and urgently needed.
Could you give a message to the students, alumni, professors, staff and experts of the Global Campus of Human Rights?
Over the past eight months as European Ombudswoman, I have had the privilege of meeting remarkable leaders, public servants, activists, journalists, and many others dedicated to the public good. These encounters have been deeply inspiring — especially in times like ours, when it is easy to feel pessimistic or anxious about the present and the future.
But let me focus on what I have witnessed firsthand: every meaningful exchange has strengthened my optimism. Despite the setbacks we inevitably face, I see an extraordinary reservoir of commitment, creativity, and integrity in the people working for human rights and democratic values.
To the students, alumni, professors, staff, and experts of the Global Campus of Human Rights: never lose hope, and never stop advocating for the world you believe in. Your work matters. Your voice matters. And your dedication — often quiet, persistent, and principled — is one of the strongest forces we have for building a more just and humane future.
For more information contact our Communications and Press Offices:
Elisa Aquino – Isotta Esposito – Carlotta Brunetta
pressoffice@gchumanrights.org - communications@gchumanrights.org
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