Ombudsmeno instituto genezė ir raidos perspektyvos

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to make the analysis of the ombudsman’s institution, to describe the essential features of the ombudsman’s body in general and the role of ombudsman explaining his main activity. The article consists of four parts. The first part explains what an ombudsman is, analysis the concept of the ombudsman and the essential features of the ombudsman. The second part describes the evolution of the Ombudsman Office and the preconditions of the creation of ombudsman. The characteristic of the specialized ombudsman’s institutions is presented in the third part. The future perspectives of the development of ombudsman are outlined next. The institute of the Ombudsman originated in Sweden at the turn of the 19th century. After a certain period of time the establishment of that institute spread throughout many countries not only in Europe but all over the world. The establishment of the Ombudsman institute gave a chance for citizens to choose the way of protecting their rights, as citizens were granted to make free decision on whether to make appeal to the court, or submit a complaint to the Ombudsman. However, there is a difference between the court and the ombudsman. The former provides binding decisions, while the latter just make recommendational proposals. „Ombudsman” is an international legal term of the officer who investigates complains concerning maladministration, which occurs, when a public body fails to act in accordance with a rule or principle which is binding upon it. It is of a great importance that public institutions would apply the laws properly, therefore the performance of the administrative authorities should be under certain control. The ombudsman has contributed to making the public administration better. The ombudsman plays an important role and will play in the future defending rights of the citizens and developing judicial system of the State.