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Local ombuds institutions at the ECHR
The Reykjavik Summit of the Council of Europe in 2023 was an important event, especially in terms of reinforcing the role of local and regional authorities in protecting human rights. The recognition of the Congress’s unique role in promoting and safeguarding human rights at the local level is significant, as it underscores the importance of ensuring fundamental rights are upheld close to citizens' everyday lives.
The Dutch permanent representative's initiative to invite local ombuds institutions from the Netherlands to Strasbourg is an interesting step, as it facilitated a better understanding of how these institutions can contribute to human rights protection. The IOI European Regional President, Reinier van Zutphen, and Marianne van den Anker, the Ombudsman of Rotterdam-Rijnmond, were the two IOI members present during the dialogue and exchange at the Council of Europe.
Human rights for local ombuds institutions are highly relevant because for many citizens, local government is often the first and only point of contact with the public sector. The discussion about how local ombuds institutions can further engage in the promotion and protection of human rights is essential, as they can play a critical role in holding local authorities accountable for respecting and safeguarding those rights.
The Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg play a pivotal role in promoting and protecting human rights across their 46 member states. The Council of Europe, established in 1949, focuses on upholding human rights, democracy, and the rule of law throughout Europe. The ECHR, established in 1959, is the judicial body responsible for interpreting the European Convention on Human Rights and ensuring its application.
Decisions made by the ECHR are legally binding on member states, which must comply with them. However, these decisions have a broader influence beyond the member states. Observer states, like Canada, Japan, and Mexico, while not bound by the rulings, often look to these decisions for guidance and may incorporate some of the principles into their own human rights frameworks.
The visit to Strasbourg was highly inspiring and as the Council of Europe is setting up a special training programme for human rights on local level, the IOI European Regional President will come back to this effort for a possible Ombuds Academy training. The visit to Strasbourg ended at the office of the European ombudsman, where the delegation heard about the activities of the institution.
Source: The Office of the National Ombudsman of the Netherlands and Regional President of the IOI’s European Region
