BackIOI Individual member Maaike de Langen published a new article on how Ombudsman institutions can contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Ombuds institutes exist in over 100 countries around the world. They are critical players in the social justice landscape and their core mission is to remedy injustice and mediate the relationship between citizens and the authorities.
While the exact modalities vary, in general they receive and address complaints about public services. They offer people free and easy access to justice, with few procedural requirements to communicate their grievances. They apply a flexible approach to resolving problems, using fact-finding, mediation, public reporting, and other methods to respond to injustices.
Many different types of organizations, from universities and businesses to municipalities and civil society organizations, are aligning their work with the UN’s 2030 Agenda. Ombuds institutes – which are organized at the global level through the International Ombudsman Institute –have been slow to join their ranks and articulate their contribution to the achievement of the SDGs.
In the UN General Assembly resolution on the role of ombudsman institutions adopted in late 2020, there is no mention of the SDGs. This is a missed opportunity, since ombuds institutes can and should take action to contribute to the achievement of these universal goals.
To read about the eight ways Ombudsman institutions can contribute to the achievement of the SDGs and to consult the full article, please click here.
Source: Ms Maaike de Langen, Program Lead Justice for All, Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies, NYU Center on International Cooperation
