Public statement

Protector of Citizens and fight against corruption

Organization Transparency – Serbia salutes the news on final election of Ombudsman. At the same time we wish to worn that election of Protector of Citizens is only the first in long series of steps that should follow in order to finalize establishing of this institution in Serbia . So far experience teaches us that watchdog institutions are often facing obstacles even in the stage of establishing (e.g. late approval of systematization act, assignment of inappropriate premises) and that those obstacles often became proportionally larger when it is shown that some institution acts actually independent from political structures and when they do their work devotedly.

Although, in the Law on the Protector of Citizens, protection of certain groups' human rights is in the first place (e.g. minority rights, protection of children, protection of convicts' rights) we expect that the largest number of complaints will refer to partial proceedings or negligence of administration and servants behind which are often hidden abuses and corruption. Because of that we consider that newly elected Ombudsman will have the opportunity and obligation to help citizens protect their rights from malpractice of administration, but also to take into protection from maltreatment from superiors those public servants who wish to point out to irregularities.

We also remind that by electing of Protector of Citizens state fulfilled only part of its obligation from mandatory recommendation no. 15. of Group of States against Corruption, and that it is necessary, with changes of the Law on local self - government, to motivate establishing of ombudsmen at local level.

Transparency – Serbia

Press Office

Belgrade , July 3rd 2007 .