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23. The Ombudsman, the deputies and the decision-making staff shall be
immune from legal process in respect of activities and words, spoken or
written, carried out in their official capacity for the Institution (functional
immunity). Such functional immunity shall apply also after the
Ombudsman, the deputies or the decision-making staff-member leave
the Institution.

24. States shall refrain from taking any action aiming at or resulting in the
suppression of the Ombudsman Institution or in any hurdles to its
effective functioning, and shall effectively protect it from any such threats.

25. These principles shall be read, interpreted and used in order to
consolidate and strengthen the Institution of the Ombudsman. Taking into
consideration the various types, systems and legal status of Ombudsman
Institutions and their staff members, states are encouraged to undertake
all necessary actions including constitutional and legislative adjustments
so as to provide proper conditions that strengthen and develop the
Ombudsman Institutions and their capacity, independence and
impartiality in the spirit and in line with the Venice Principles and thus
ensure their proper, timely and effective implementation.

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