Lawyer’s Committee for Human Rights – YUCOM, together with the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, in the period from March to December 2012 implemented the project that aims to determine the effect of the recommendations coming from the Ombudsman of the Republic of Serbia and to investigate the influence of the authority of this institution in relation to public bodies for which the Ombudsman’s office found a violation of the principles of good governance. Supporting the mechanism for the protection of individual rights by the Ombudsman is necessary considering that the recommendations of the Ombudsman are not legally binding and having also in mind the determined practice that although the Ombudsman gives recommendations, public authorities that committed a violation of law often do not follow these suggestions.
The project team, together with experts, is developing a methodology for monitoring the implementation of the recommendations of the Ombudsman in order to form a stable mechanism for monitoring the work which then may be used for research on the work of the Ombudsman and other independent bodies with similar responsibilities.
Our partner organizations were interviewing representatives of the organs which received recommendations in the field of good governance and they are collecting all relevant data in regard to the reaction of the organs regarding the recommendations, mechanisms for dealing with complaints of citizens and regarding the communication of the organs with the office of the Ombudsman of the Republic and their relation to that institution and about the respect regarding human rights and the principles of good governance.
A series of meetings with the office of the Ombudsman and roundtables with representatives of the civil society, international organizations and experts in the field of human rights and good governance will open a broader discussion about the scope of the institution which is still developing into the domestic legal system and will gather additional information and opinions relevant for the research.
Project activities are following the content of the website www.ombudsman.yucom.org.rs and as well other special web pages on the internet of partner organizations, where next to the process of monitoring various reports can be found. Media articles and research papers about the institution of the Ombudsman, good governance, reviews of the responsibilities and work of Ombudsman institutions in EU – countries and in the region and a judgment of the EU regarding the Office of the Ombudsman.
The results of the research with recommendations and the methodology for monitoring the implementation of recommendations will be published in a publication that will be presented at a conference at the end of the year and widely distributed.
The results of the research with recommendations and the methodology for monitoring the implementation of the recommendations will be published in a publication that will be represented at a conference at the end of the year and widely distribut.
The full text in Serbian of the publication can be found here.
A website dedicated to monitoring the implementation of Ombudsman’s recommendations and presenting project results was created:
