Skopje Mission helps local Ombudsman staff learn from the Swedish experience

From Skopje to Stockholm

The National Ombudsman Institution, established in 1997, is very young in comparison with Sweden's. In line with the Ohrid Framework Agreement that ended the 2001 conflict, legislation was amended to give the Ombudsman additional autonomy, authority and scope to promote and protect the right of all citizens in the country.

The key elements of the enhanced Ombudsman are:

• a specific focus on non-discrimination and equitable representation of communities,
• the establishment of decentralized offices,
• financial independence of the institution and access to all official documents,
• the power to suspend the execution of administrative acts, and
• the right to contest the conformity of laws with the Constitution. 

"We had to readjust our strategy to address current challenges," explained Idzet Memeti, National Ombudsman from Skopje. "The institution's new tasks require a deeper understanding of the processes and regional specifics as well as improved communication."

Victor Ullom is the Head of the Mission's Rule of Law Unit: "It is very important that we help the institution become self-sustainable. Our Mission keeps a finger on the pulse and stands ready to support these efforts." The Mission has been working with the Ombudsman Institution since 2001.

Responding to the challenges

After the institution expanded from one to seven offices last year, OSCE support became essential. The institution now has 34 staff members in Skopje and more than 20 in regional offices in Kumanovo, Tetovo, Bitola, Stip, Strumica and Kicevo.

Because of this expansion, communication needs to be improved between central and regional offices to strengthen oversight and to ensure consistency in the way decisions are issued.

Invited by the OSCE Mission, Swedish and Canadian experts carried out a needs assessment to help the Ombudsman office. They further recommended increasing Ombudsmen expertise in various areas, such as handling complaints, particularly those involving the rights of children and minorities as well as gender equality.

To help in these areas, the OSCE Mission organized a study trip to Sweden in March 2006, sending the National Ombudsman and five members of his staff to Stockholm. Funding was provided by the Swedish International Development Agency.

Learning Swedish best practices

During the four-day visit, participants learnt about the various control mechanisms Sweden's Ombudsman uses to ensure accountability, transparency and fairness in governing and judiciary bodies.

"I've read a lot about how the Swedish Ombudsmen system functions. But it was a unique opportunity to get detailed answers in person and learn about a structure that has passed the test of time," said Dragi Celevski, Deputy Ombudsman in Skopje Head Office.

The guests met with Mats Melin, Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman, who briefed them on how the Swedish Ombudsman monitors the judiciary and the public administration.

Besides the parliamentary human rights protection mechanism, Sweden also has six governmental Ombudsmen to promote equal opportunities, help prevent ethnic and gender discrimination, and protect the rights of the disabled, children and consumers.

In addition, high professional and ethical standards of the Swedish media are ensured not by legislation but by an independent self-regulatory group, the Press Ombudsman, financed by four press organizations.

"I was impressed by their customer-oriented approach," says Uranija Pirovska, Head of the International Co-operation Unit of the Macedonian Ombudsman Institution. Every complaint is taken into consideration and followed up. And as a result, everyone is usually satisfied with how the Ombudsman safeguards human rights," she adds.

Back to the Balkans

To discuss solutions to specific issues and improve day-to-day efficiency of their office, study trip participants are staying in touch with their Swedish counterparts. "Now, I feel free to ask their advice," says Dragi Celevski. "This co-operation between 'old' and 'young' democracies is very important."

The participants are increasing the trip's impact by sharing the knowledge they gained with their colleagues back home.

The Ombudsman uses new ideas from this visit in the process of drafting amendments to the current Ombudsman legislation (law and internal regulations), in order to increase the independence, effectiveness and efficiency of the institution. The discussion of the amended legislation is planned for the second half of 2006, once the new Parliament is constituted.