III. THE OMBUDSPERSON FOR CHILDREN ’S OFFICE (OCO) 67. The Ombudsperson for Children’s Office (OCO) was set up under the Ombudsperson for Children Act. The Office of the Ombudsperson for Children became operational in 2004. Its objectives are to promote the rights and interests of children and to ensure that their rights, needs and interests are given full consideration by public bodies, private authorities, individuals and associations of individuals. 68. The Ombudsperson for Children carries out sensitization campaigns such as talks, seminars, workshops, conference and activities to promote the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and issues related to children concerning child sexual abuse, drug trafficking, child marriage and discrimination against children with disabilities. 69. For the reporting year 2017-2018, more than 13,000 persons were sensitized, more than 6000 children and 7500 adults were attained in sensitization programmes, 20 workshops were organised by the Ombudsperson for Children’s Office, 25 talks were organised at the Citizens Advice Bureaus, more than 125 media interviews, 3 visits effected in Rodrigues, more than 60 visits to Residential Care Institutions, 40 Sensitization Sessions and Talks, and more than 135 field visits. Table 11: Cases recorded and handled by the Ombudsperson for Children’s Office Reporting Year Number of cases Recorded 2015-2016 241 2016-2017 346 2017-2018 465 2018-2019 466 Source: Ombudsperson for Children’s Office Table 12: Cases handled by the Ombudsperson for Children’s Office Cases status Cases Closed Cases in progress Cases Awaiting report Total 2015/2016 194 9 38 2016/2017 290 5 51 2017/2018 417 4 44 2018/2019 393 15 58 241 346 465 466 Source: Ombudsperson for Children’s Office 30