Partners

• Executive and the legislative branches of government, independent statutory human rights bodies and civil society

Description

The ombudsman is closely linked to the executive and legislative branches, independent statutory human rights bodies and civil society. This is reflected in the pluralist make-up of theHuman Rights Ombudsman’s Council, which is the ombudsman’s consultative body.
It consults the ombudsman on matters within their competence and is composed of 16 members. Following a public competition, the ombudsman appoints seven representatives of civil society and three representatives of the scientific community who are experts in the field of the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, whereby no more than two representatives of civil society and no more than one representative of the scientific community may be appointed from among people who did not apply to the public competition. Upon a proposal of the relevant authority, the ombudsman also appoints two representatives of the government and one representative each of the Advocate of the Principle of Equality, the Information Commissioner, the National Assembly and the National Council from among their employees who are not officials and who are experts in the field of the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Through the council, these stakeholders advise and structurally interact with the ombudsman directly. The ombudsman also cooperates with civil society in implementing the activities of the national preventive mechanism, as set out in national legislation. Internationally, the ombudsman is anactive member of many organisations. For more detail, see Background information for the FRA human rights structures tool.