PROJECT TITLE: Support to the Strengthening of the Ombudsman Office
COUNTRIES: Serbia
OVERALL OBJECTIVE: To enhance and promote further democratization of society, promotion of the principles of the rule of law, human rights and good governance through more efficient control of the legality in the work of public administrative bodies and the consolidation of the Ombudsman institution in Serbia. In particular, the project aimed at:
- Consolidating the achievements of the initial phase of the Ombudsman's office, and contributing to the further development of its capacity in line with standards of the European Ombudsman;
- Supporting the Ombudsman's office to fully perform its mandate, in order to ensure utmost legality and equity of public administrative acts vis-à-vis all citizens;
- Consolidating the internal structure of the Ombudsman's office, ensuring access of citizens to efficient protection of fundamental rights;
- Developing a sustainable network for external cooperation of the Ombudsman's office with relevant stakeholders in Serbia and with counterparts in the European Union.
ACTIVITIES:
The project included the following activities:
- Shaping of the Serbian Ombudsman mission and vision through mentoring by EU Ombudsman institutions towards its consolidation;
- Organizational structure of the Ombudsman’s Office is improved in accordance with the best European practice;
- Capacities of the Ombudsman’s office were strengthened via development of the human resources component and the acquiring of technical equipment;
- Awareness of the general public and professionals’ groups of the role and importance of the institution of the Ombudsman was achieved through a promotional campaign;
- Conditions for the improvement of cooperation of Ombudsman’s offices on the Republic, provincial and local levels and their cooperation with state bodies created.
FUNDING AGENCY: European Commission
LEADER: EPLO
PARTNERS: The Dutch Ombudsman, The Greek Ombudsman
TIME FRAME: 2009-2012
