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The ombudsman institution is not envisaged in the Constitution of the Czech Republic. On December 8, 1999, the parliament adopted the Law on the Public Defender of Rights to set out the responsibilities and the powers of the ombudsman. The ombudsman is elected by the House of the Representatives for a period of 4 years among the applicants, proposed by the President and by the Senate. He may be re-appointed only once, for the same period of time. The ombudsman function in not compatible with performing another public function and profession or with political party membership. Criminal proceedings may not be moved against the ombudsman without the authorisation of the parliament. The ombudsman investigates complaints about any action taken by a person or authorities in the exercise of administrative functions. He may also commence investigation on his own initiative, on initiative of a MP, and on initiative of the Houses of the Parliament. He has the power to monitor the administration of the state and local authorities, the Council for Radio and Television, Police and Health Insurance Fund. Excluded from examination are the proceedings, pending in a court or tribunal and the final judgements of the courts.

The Public Defender of Rights has the right to propose adoption, amendment, supplements and revoke of an act or of a provision of an act. He presents to the parliament an annual report of his activities. Copies of the report are also presented to the President, to the Senate, to the government, to the ministers and to the other administrative organs. The Czech ombudsman has the right to attend the closed sessions of the House of Deputies and the sessions of the House of Representatives and of its organs, when issues within his scope of action are discussed. He is assisted in his activities by an ombudsman’s bureau. The expenses relating to the activities of the ombudsman and the bureau form the subject of separate section of the state budget.

Contact information:
Public Defender of Rights (Ombudsman)
Address: Údolní 39 602 00 Brno
Phone: + 420 (0) 5 - 42542111
Fax: + 420 (0) 5 - 42542112
E-mail: kancelar@ochrance.cz
Web site: http://www.ochrance.cz