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b. protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms,
the rule of law and democratic governance, including, as
appropriate, through proposals to change legislation, litigation
or other means;

c. make recommendations to prevent or remedy any of the
conduct described in paragraph 8.a and, where appropriate, to
propose administrative or legislative reforms aimed at
improving the operation of public-service providers; in the
event that the latter fail to accept or implement such
recommendations, member States should ensure that
Ombudsman institutions have the right, inter alia, to submit a
report on such failure to the competent elected body, usually
parliament;

d. co-operate, within their mandate, with local, regional, national
and international stakeholders and networks which operate in
related or similar fields.

9. Member States should make it a legal obligation for all
addressees of recommendations by Ombudsman institutions to provide
a reasoned reply within an appropriate time.

10. Member States should consider granting Ombudsman institutions
competences enabling them to perform the functions foreseen by
relevant international conventions in the field of human rights, such as
the National Preventive Mechanism under the Optional Protocol to the
United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and/or the independent mechanism
under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, or to strengthen such competences, where appropriate.
Where an Ombudsman institution holds these mandates, it must have
access to sufficient resources to develop the capacity enabling it to
effectively discharge its functions; this should include having
appropriately qualified, skilled and trained staff.

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