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Acknowledging the importance of continuing support by the Council of
Europe and other international stakeholders to Ombudsman institutions
and welcoming the well-established co-operation between the
Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe and
Ombudsman institutions, as well as their networks, as foreseen in the
Commissioner’s mandate under Resolution Res(99)50 on the Council of
Europe Commissioner for Human Rights;

Acknowledging further the importance of the co-operation between
Ombudsman institutions and their various networks, and of their co-
operation with the Council of Europe and other international stakeholders;

Bearing in mind the relevant international texts in support of the
2
development and protection of Ombudsman institutions;
Acknowledging the diversity of Ombudsman institutions, which reflects
the diversity of the countries and regions they serve;
Emphasising nonetheless that it is vitally important for any such institution
to be governed by a number of core principles, including the following:
- independence;
- impartiality, objectivity and fairness;
- integrity and high moral authority;

2 See, in particular:
Recommendation Rec(97)14 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the
establishment of independent national institutions for the promotion and protection of
human rights;
– Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)11 of the Committee of Ministers to member States
on the need to strengthen the protection and promotion of civil society space in Europe;
– Parliamentary Assembly Resolution 1959 (2013) on “Strengthening the institution of
ombudsman in Europe”;
– Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Resolution 327
(2011) on “The office of Ombudsperson and local and regional authorities”;
– Principles on the protection and promotion of the Ombudsman institution (“The Venice
Principles"), adopted by the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice
th
Commission) at its 118 Plenary Session (Venice, 15-16 March 2019);
– ECRI General Policy Recommendation No. 2 (revised) on Equality Bodies to combat
racism and intolerance at national level, adopted on 7 December 2017;
– United Nations General Assembly Resolution 48/134 of 20 December 1993 on
national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (“The Paris
Principles”);
– United Nations General Assembly Resolutions 65/207 of 21 December 2010, 67/163
of 20 December 2012, 69/168 of 18 December 2014, 71/200 of 19 December 2016 and
72/186 of 19 December 2017 on the role of the ombudsman, mediator and other national
human rights institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights;
– The by-laws of the International Ombudsman Institute, adopted on 13 November
2012.
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