Capacity and potentials of the local ombudsman institutions in Serbia

Abstract

The main goal of this article is to show how local ombudsmen in Serbia work. The article analysis data gained by available legal documents, as well as by empirical research conducted in November 2011. Text contains three parts: one is dedicated to the capacities of this institution, predominantly the office of local ombudsman; the second analyses the quality of ombudsman's work, as well as the quality of work of local government bodies, which this institution controls; the third one focuses on the relationship between ombudsmen on different levels of government (local, pokraina's and republic ombudsman), on the manner of ombudsman' capacity improvement and on the relationship with other local government bodies. The main instrument for measurement of the quality of ombudsman' work is usefulness of this institute to citizens, having in mind the protection of their rights and strengthening responsibility of government bodies as well as upgrading the quality of democratic culture.

Ovaj članak ima za cilj da prikaže na koji način funkcionišu lokalni ombudsmani u Srbiji. Članak analizira podatke do kojih se došlo kroz dostupne pravne izvore, kao i one do kojih se došlo empirijskim istraživanjem, sprovedenim tokom novembra 2011. godine. Tekst se sastoji iz tri celine: jedna je posvećena kapacitetima institucije, a pre svega službe (kancelarije) lokalnih ombudsmana; druga analizira kvalitet rada ombudsmana i kvalitet rada lokalnih organa vlasti koje ovaj organ kontroliše; treća se bavi odnosom između institucija ombudsmana na različitim nivoima vlasti (lokalnih, pokrajinskog i republičkog ombudsmana), načinom obogaćivanja kvaliteta rada ove institucije i odnosima sa drugim organima lokalne vlasti. Kao merni instrument kvaliteta rada ovog instituta analizira se korisnost ovog organa za građane u smislu njihove zaštite od zloupotreba i doprinosa ovog organa jačanju odgovornosti organa vlasti, kao i jačanju demokratske kulture društva.