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*
Similarly, the Kosovar NPM also regularly engages in cooperation
activities, professional exchanges and peer to peer collaborative learning
with counterparts from South-East Europe and other European countries.
One concrete result of this cooperation was the signature of a
Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral cooperation and participation
in coordinated monitoring activities of readmission operations of
*
Kosovar -citizens from Switzerland; another outcome was the conduct of
joint monitoring visits to detention centres and mental health facilities in
Warsaw together with the Polish NPM.
Another example of cooperation of counterpart institutions is the South-
East Europe Network of NMPs, which provides an effective network of
torture prevention practitioners who regularly exchange on monitoring
challenges and good practices in the sub-region under the rotating
Chairmanship of its now eleven members.

Cooperation between Ombudsman institutions and parliaments can also
be an important avenue by which human rights are taken into
consideration during the legislative process. In Ukraine a joint working
group was set up between the Ombudsman and Parliament in order to
develop a new draft law on personal data protection. This allows for a
smooth adoption of legislative framework aligned with European
standards on human rights, as well as creating a shared understanding
between relevant authorities about the proper implementation of human
rights.

Civil society’s access to the Ombudsman institution

Principle 11(b)

Ombudsman institutions also frequently collaborate with third sector and
charity organisations to help citizens secure their rights. In some cases,
the Ombudsman institution has a specific legislative mandate to
cooperate with civil society. In Austria, for example, the Austrian
Ombudsman Board is under a duty to cooperate with scientific, academic,
and educational institutions and to inform the public of its activities. In
Poland, the Human Rights Commissioner’s legislation obliges him or her
to collaborate with associations, civic movements or other goodwill
societies for the protection of the liberties and rights of citizens. In

* “All reference to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, in this text
shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution
1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.”
* Ibid.

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