Introduction

Abstract

The notion of “ombudsman” spread continuously throughout the world in the course of the 20th century. The constitutional concept of independent, easily accessible and “soft” control of public administration through highly reputable persons is nowadays inextricably linked to the principles of democracy and the rule of law, as it is an essential contribution to the efficiency of those principles. Its increasing significance for the protection of human rights and the liability of administration is recognised worldwide. Ombudsman-institutions are nowadays inherent in all kinds of legal orders.

The International Ombudsman Institute of the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, today represents ombudsmen in 125 different national legal systems. In 1976 there were only 38.

Cf Mauerer, Die parlamentarischen Ombudsmann-Einrichtungen in den Mitgliedstaaten des Europarates, in Matscher (Hrsg), Ombudsmann in Europa. Institutioneller Vergleich, 1994, 123.

Cf Reif, The Ombudsman, Good Governance and the International Human Rights System, 2004, 55, 81; Robertson, National Government and the Ombudsman, in Reif (ed), The Ombudsman Concept, 1995, 105.

Cf the comprehensive illustration of Hossain/Besselink (ed), Human Rights Commissions and Ombudsman Offices. National Experiences throughout the World, 2000.