EU Statement UN General Assembly: High-level panel on the theme “The importance of complying with the Venice Principles for Ombudsman institutions to strengthen the[...]

EU Statement -- UN General Assembly: High-level panel on the theme "The importance of complying with the Venice Principles for Ombudsman institutions to strengthen the institutions' independence and autonomy and create an enabling environment to perform"

18 May 2026, New York -- Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States delivered by Ms Katarina Clifford, Counsellor and Head of Human Rights and Social Affairs section, EU Delegation to the UN, at the High-level Panel on the theme "The importance of complying with the Venice Principles for Ombudsman institutions to strengthen the institutions' independence and autonomy and create an enabling environment to perform their mandate nationally and internationally."

Thank you, Chair.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States and share some reflections on this important topic.

As you all know, the Ombudsman institution originated in Sweden over 200 years ago, and has over time spread internationally as a model to ensure independent oversight of public administration and protect citizens from unfair treatment by the state - reflecting the historical shift from perceiving governments as an instrument of rulers, towards governments as a service accountable to its citizens.

In today's environment of democratic backsliding and growing authoritarian tendencies in many parts of the world, the role of the Ombudsman institution is more important than ever. The Ombudsman institution is an essential watchdog to ensure that fundamental rights become a reality for all. This has been recognized in several General Assembly resolutions, and UN Member States have been encouraged to create or strengthen independent and impartial Ombudsman institutions to promote and protect human rights, good governance and respect for the rule of law.

The Venice Principles provide important practical guidelines in this regard. By establishing clear standards for appointment, tenure, and legal protection, the principles set the foundation to ensure that Ombudsman institutions can operate with the independence and autonomy required to fulfil their mandates.

Within the EU, we have national ombudsmen overseeing the central public administration in all Member States, with the exception of two - who instead have regional ombudsmen overviewing regional and local administration. All the EU national ombudsmen apply the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in their work and assessments. They also apply relevant UN Conventions, such as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention Against Torture, and may contribute to the Universal Periodic Reviews of their respective countries.

Although there are substantive differences in terms of functions, powers and orientations between the EU national ombudsmen, they all have four essential characteristics, in that they:

1. investigate complaints as a major part of their activity;

2. treat plaintiffs as bearers of rights;

3. take an objective view of the elements in dispute;

4. are independent from the administration/authorities concerned by their investigations and other activities.

Despite the strength of our frameworks, EU national Ombudsman institutions also continue to face challenges, including recurrent pressures that threaten their autonomy and independence. The lack of human and financial resources is a primary obstacle, particularly when new mandates are assigned without additional funding. In some jurisdictions, governments may attempt to exercise pressure through budget cuts and election of a new Ombudsman by national parliaments after a mandate ends is sometimes delayed. Ensuring that investigations lead to meaningful change can also be challenging and remains a constant priority.

All public sector ombudsmen from EU Member States, either national or regional, are members of the European Network of Ombudsmen - which serves as a platform to ensure the institutional independence of ombudsmen. The European Commission Strategy to strengthen the application of the EU Charter for Fundamental Rights ('EU Charter Strategy'), adopted in 2020, recognizes the crucial role of the Ombudsman institutions in this regard.

In understanding how the Venice Principles and the Paris Principles on National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) can complement and strengthen each other, it is important to recognize that the "Ombudsman world" and the "NHRI world" are deeply interconnected, but retain distinct identities.

In the EU, 13 national Ombudsmen are accredited as National Human Rights Institutions. While the Paris Principles emphasize pluralist representation and the optional nature of individual complaint handling, many Ombudsmen successfully bridge these roles. The EU Charter Strategy recognizes that both these independent bodies are crucial for upholding the rights protected in the Charter. The upcoming 2026 Charter Report, to be published in early December, will focus specifically on the role of independent human rights bodies, including Ombudsmen institutions and NHRIs, and how these state-mandated actors, bridging governments and civil society, can effectively promote, protect and monitor human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The EU national Ombudsman institutions, by the very nature of their work, contribute concretely to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal 16: peace, justice, and strong institutions. Our 2025 Strategy for Civil Society recognizes Ombudspersons as vital protectors of civil society organizations, amplifying their voices and protecting the civic space.

In conclusion, the EU and its Member States firmly believe that the Ombudsman institution has stood the test of time and remains a model for governments to ensure oversight and prevent misuse of public administration. We encourage all Member States to implement the Venice Principles, which serve as the gold standard to ensure their institutional autonomy and independence, and provide necessary financial stability required to perform their functions effectively.

Thank you.