Origine Comune and De.Co products at the opening dinner at the Campidoglio
On the evening of 26 May, the official welcome dinner for the International Conference of Ombudsmen, organised by the Ombudsman of the Lazio Region, took place on the terrace of the Sala della Protomoteca at the Campidoglio Marino Fardelli and by the National Co-ordination of Italian Ombudsmen, at the opening of the international conference scheduled for 28 and 29 May at the Chamber of Deputies.
The evening, organised with the vital support of ANCI Lazio, welcomed over 300 international delegates, including ombudsmen, ombudsman offices, institutional representatives and delegations from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, providing an opportunity for dialogue and hospitality within the historic setting of the Campidoglio.
The event opened with an official address by the President of the Lazio Regional Council Antonello Aurigemma, by the President of ANCI Lazio Daniele Sinibaldi and the representative of the Mayor of Rome Elio Tomassetti, Chair of the 12th Borough.
The President of ANCI Lazio, Daniele Sinibaldi, focused his speech on the fundamental role that Ombudsmen play on a daily basis in serving their communities, paying particular attention to their role at local level, where the relationship between citizens and institutions is more direct and the need for protection is more immediate. Sinibaldi emphasised that ANCI Lazio had sought to make a tangible contribution to organising the event precisely because of this conviction, recognising the institution of the ombudsman as an essential safeguard of democracy and community engagement. In his speech, he expressed his heartfelt thanks to President Aurigemma and Ombudsman Fardelli for the initiative and for their dedication to building an increasingly solid and cohesive international network.
Aurigemma, in turn, emphasised the strategic importance of the ombudsman’s role as a means of bridging the gap between institutions and citizens, announcing the work currently under way to equip ombudsmen with more effective tools capable of responding to societal changes, starting with technological innovation. «The International Conference of Ombudsmen provides a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, experiences and approaches, and to strengthen the network and foster effective synergy,» said the President of the Lazio Regional Assembly.
In terms of hospitality, a leading role was played by the’“Ugo Tognazzi” Hotel Management School, Velletri, which organised the evening’s programme, showcasing the excellence of vocational training in the Lazio region at an institutional venue of international significance. The institute’s participation also provided a tangible opportunity to combine training with work experience, highlighting the skills of the young students before an audience of high-profile guests.
The products served, all bearing the De.Co. municipal designation and forming part of the “Common Origin” — the project for ANCI Lazio in promoting local specialities — have truly embodied the values of a healthy, authentic diet rooted in the local area, a theme that was also linked to the awareness campaign on eating disorders run by the association Donna Donna Onlus by Nadia Accetti. Numerous food and drink producers from Lazio were in attendance, including Massimiliano Scarchilli, and on the menu was Anzio’s fisherman’s soup, served by the restaurant Il Turcotto – a traditional seafood dish that conveys the deep-rooted identity of a local community to an international audience.
