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Foreword

Ombudsman institutions have become an integral part of the modern
model of good governance.

They play an important role in protecting and promoting human rights and
provide individuals with an avenue of complaint in case of alleged human
rights violations. Ombudsman institutions are increasingly involved in
international cooperation at the regional and universal level.

The Council of Europe has long supported the establishment of
independent and effective Ombudsman institutions within its member
States.

In 1985 the Committee of Ministers adopted Recommendation
CM/Rec(85)13 on the Institution of the Ombudsman which strongly
advocated for the appointing of an Ombudsman by States and
encouraged to further empower them wherever they had existed already.

In view of the remarkable developments of the Ombudsman institutions
in Europe and beyond since the last 25 years, the Committee of Ministers
of the Council of Europe instructed the Steering Committee for Human
Rights (CDDH) to review the abovementioned Recommendation.

The new Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)6 of the Committee of
Ministers to Member States on the development of the Ombudsman
institution was adopted on 16 October 2019 (hereinafter the
Recommendation). It has been preceded by the adoption of Principles on
the Protection and Promotion of the Ombudsman Institution by the Venice
Commission (“the Venice Principles”).

The new Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)6 of the Committee of
Ministers and the Venice Principles are complementary, thus constituting
an updated set of European standards covering all the aspects of
establishment and functioning of the Ombudsman institutions.

The present publication also includes a selection of good national
practices which highlight the application of these standards in Europe.
The selected practices provide numerous examples of how the European
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