Parliamentary Ombudsman
Organisation name in original language
Justitieombudsmannen
Category of human rights structure
Parliamentary structure/mechanism
Country
Sweden
Website URL
Not available
Type(s) of body
Not applicableLegal source(s)
- Instrument of Government (Regeringsform), 28 February 1974, Chapter 13, Section 6
- Act with Instructions for the Parliamentary Ombudsmen (Lag (2023:499) med instruktion för Riksdagens ombudsmän (JO)), 29 June 2023
- Parliamentary Act (Riksdagsordning (2014:801)), 19 June 2014
- Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (Offentlighets- och sekretesslagen (2009:400)), 20 May 2009
Human rights capacity support
- According to Section 2 of the Parliamentary Act, the parliament elects ombudsmen under Chapter 13, Section 6, of the Instrument of Government to supervise the application of laws and other statutes in public activities. There are four Parliamentary Ombudsmen (one Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman and three Parliamentary Ombudsmen).
Functions
- The Parliamentary Ombudsman safeguards individuals’ rights by overseeing public authorities, ensuring legality, impartiality and respect for freedoms. Acting independently of government, the ombudsmen investigate complaints, inspect bodies and promote fair laws, aiming to prevent rights violations and improve legislation.
Specific mandates
Not applicableStructured cooperation with partners at national level
- Recommending law changes to parliament or government.
- Consulting the Committee on the Constitution.
- Co-lecturing with the Chancellor of Justice.
- Participating in events coordinated by top courts.
- Giving requested talks and attending occasional conferences.
- Hosting civil-society dialogue meetings under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT).
- Taking part in civil-society training on request.
Structured cooperation with partners at international and EU level
- Sharing experience through international exchanges.
- Fulfilling OPCAT-related duties as a national preventive mechanism.
- Prioritising Nordic and Baltic–Nordic ombudsman networks.
- Engaging with the International Ombudsman Institute.
- Participating in the European Network of Ombudsmen.
- Maintaining contact with international monitoring bodies under OPCAT.
DISCLAIMER The information presented here is collected under contract by the FRA's research network FRANET. The information and views contained do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of the FRA.