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human rights, Resolution 72/181 of 19 December 2017 on National
institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, the Optional
Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted by the General Assembly
on 18 December 2002, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities adopted by the General Assembly on 13 December 2006;

After having consulted the United Nations Human Rights Office of the
High Commissioner, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of
human rights defenders, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human
Rights and the Steering Committee for Human Rights of the Council of
Europe (CDDH), the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), the European Union Agency for Fundamental
Rights, the European Ombudsman of the European Union, the
International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), the Association of
Mediterranean Ombudsmen (AOM), the Association of Ombudsman and
Mediators of the Francophonie (AOMF), the Federation of Ibero-
American Ombudsman (FIO), the European Network of National Human
Rights Institutions (ENNHRI);

has, at its 118th Plenary Session (15-16 March 2019), adopted these
Principles on the Protection and Promotion of the Ombudsman
Institution (“the Venice Principles”)

1. Ombudsman Institutions have an important role to play in
strengthening democracy, the rule of law, good administration and the
protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
While there is no standardised model across Council of Europe Member
States, the State shall support and protect the Ombudsman Institution
and refrain from any action undermining its independence.

2. The Ombudsman Institution, including its mandate, shall be based on
a firm legal foundation, preferably at constitutional level, while its
characteristics and functions may be further elaborated at the statutory
level.

3. The Ombudsman Institution shall be given an appropriately high rank,
also reflected in the remuneration of the Ombudsman and in the
retirement compensation.

4. The choice of a single or plural Ombudsman model depends on the
State organisation, its particularities and needs. The Ombudsman
Institution may be organised at different levels and with different
competences.

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