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Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)6 of the

Committee of Ministers to member
States on the development of the

Ombudsman Institution

(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 16 October 2019
at the 1357 meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)
th

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, under the terms of
Article 15.b of the Statute of the Council of Europe,

Considering that the aim of the Council of Europe is to achieve a greater
unity between its members, for the purpose of safeguarding and
realising the ideals and principles which are their common heritage,
inter alia by carrying out activities in the field of human rights and
fundamental freedoms;

Welcoming the remarkable development that has taken place since the
adoption of Recommendation Rec(85)13 on the institution of the
Ombudsman in the great majority of the Council of Europe member
States with respect to the establishment of Ombudsman institutions at
1
national, regional and local level, including those dealing with specific,
thematic issues;

Welcoming the steady development of the functions of Ombudsman
institutions which have expanded beyond the original mandate
concerning maladministration and the rule of law;
Noting with satisfaction that Ombudsman institutions now constitute an
important feature of democratic governance and play a key role in the
protection and promotion of human rights and the rule of law in the vast
majority of Council of Europe member States;

Underlining the great potential of Ombudsman institutions for the
promotion and protection of human rights in Europe, not least for the
effective implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights
(ETS No. 5);

1 The term “Ombudsman institutions” is used in this recommendation regardless of gender
and to designate institutions such as those of an Ombudsman, Mediator, Parliamentary
Commissioner, People's Defender, People’s Advocate, Human Rights Commissioner,
Inspector General of Government, Public Protector, etc.
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