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Recalling that the Ombudsman is an institution taking action
independently against maladministration and alleged violations of human
rights and fundamental freedoms affecting individuals or legal persons;

Stressing that the right to complain to the Ombudsman is an addition to
the right of access to justice through the courts;

Stating that governments and parliaments must accept criticism in a
transparent system accountable to the people;

Focusing on the commitment of the Ombudsman to call upon parliaments
and governments to respect and promote human rights and fundamental
freedoms, such a role being of utmost importance especially during
periods of hardship and conflicts in society;

Expressing serious concern with the fact that the Ombudsman Institution
is at times under different forms of attacks and threats, such as physical
or mental coercion, legal actions threatening immunity, suppression
reprisal, budgetary cuts and a limitation of its mandate;
Recalling that the Venice Commission, on different occasions, has
worked extensively on the role of the Ombudsman;

Referring to the Recommendations of the Committee of Ministers of the
Council of Europe R (85) 13 on the institution of the Ombudsman, R (97)
14 on the establishment of independent national institutions for the
promotion and protection of human rights, R (2000)10 on codes of
conduct for public officials and CM/Rec(2007) 7 on good administration,
CM/Rec(2014)7 on the on the protection of whistle-blowers and
CM/Rec(2016)3 on human rights and business; to the Recommendations
of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe 757 (1975) and
1615 (2003) and in particular its Resolution 1959 (2013); as well as to
Recommendations 61(1999), 159 (2004), 309(2011) and Resolution 327
(2011) of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council
of Europe; to ECRI General Policy Recommendation No. 2: Equality
bodies to combat racism and intolerance at national level, adopted on 7
December 2017;

Referring to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 48/134 on the
principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion
and protection of human rights (“the Paris Principles”) of 20 December
1993, Resolution 69/168 of 18 December 2014 and Resolution 72/186 of
19 December 2017 on the role of the Ombudsman, mediator and other
national human rights institutions in the promotion and protection of

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