AUSTRIA | Delegation from Macedonia visits the Austrian Ombudsman Board

From 28 to 30 April 2014 the Austrian Ombudsman Board (AOB) welcomed a delegation from Macedonia. The delegation was composed of three members of the Macedonian Ombudsman institution, who are acting in their role as National Preventive Mechanism in Macedonia as well. The project was realised in cooperation with the EU Commission within the framework of their programme “TAIEX”. TAIEX (“Technical Assistance and Information Exchange”) supports partner countries with regard to the approximation, application and enforcement of EU legislation.

The main objective of the three-day visit in office of the AOB was to provide Macedonia with information regarding the function and methodology of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) for the protection and promotion of human rights, and to learn from their own expertise and experience in the matter. The focus in particular lay with the rights of persons with disabilities.

In the course of the visit, the Macedonian delegation gained detailed information regarding the composition and methodology of the Austrian control mechanism, national and international human rights standards, the cooperation with the competent authorities and with the examined institutions and facilities as well as the role of civil society and of the AOB’s advisory body, the Human Rights Advisory Council, in this regard.

The members of the delegation also met with members of one of the AOB’s expert commissions, accompanied them to a facility for persons with disabilities and conducted an announced visit. Thereby the delegation was provided with a comprehensive insight on-site into the practical work of the preventive mechanism.

Since 1 July 2012 the AOB has been active as National Preventive Mechanism in Austria. It is in charge of monitoring the observance of human rights and preventing their violation.