OSCE Mission and Council of Europe welcome creation of "Protector of Citizens" in Serbia

BELGRADE, 16 September 2005 - The OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro and the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade have both welcomed Wednesday's adoption of the "Law on the Protector of Citizens" (Ombudsman) by the Serbian Parliament.

The new body will provide the citizens of Serbia with the opportunity to appeal against the decisions of the public administration, which they believe violate their rights.

"This Ombudsman-type institution will be another pillar of Serbia's democracy and we hope that the Government will give it the necessary support to fulfill its role", the Head of the OSCE Mission, Ambassador Maurizio Massari said.

Stefano Valenti, the Special Representative of the Secretary General to Serbia and Montenegro, added: "The CoE welcomes the adoption of the Law on Ombudsman, as an additional instrument for the protection of human rights and a further step towards the full compliance with the commitments taken by Serbia and Montenegro when joining the CoE in 2003."

The institution of Protector of Citizens is similar to the Office of the Ombudsman in the Republic of Montenegro and can investigate complaints lodged by citizens against public administration for maladministration, discrimination or other violations of human rights. It can also investigate cases on its own initiative.

The Protector of the Citizens is expected to issue annual report containing an analysis of the state of human rights in the Republic and recommendations to the Government to improve the functioning of public administration.

The OSCE Mission and the CoE, in co-operation with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, has over the last three years provided extensive expertise to the Serbian and Montenegrin Government on the creation of their national human rights institutions. In addition, a great deal of support was directed towards increasing the capacity of the Vojvodina Provincial Ombudsman.

Supporting the work of the Protector of Citizens will be a priority for the OSCE Mission in the remaining months of 2005 and in 2006. A package of capacity and institution-building projects has already been designed and funds allocated to provide immediate support upon election of the Protector of Citizens. The CoE will also continue to support Ombudsman institutions in Serbia with relevant human rights training and documentation.