Ankara to host int’l ombudsman symposium

ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News

Turkey’s ombudsman, Ömeroğlu, began working in his post in March. AA photo

The Institution of the Chief Ombudsman of Turkey will host an international ombudsman symposium in Ankara on Sept. 3 with the aim of discussing the efficiency of the institution on enforcing principles of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

European Ombudsman P. Nikiforos Diamandouros and European Parliament Rapporteur on Turkey Ria Oomen-Ruijten are among the participants at the symposium, which will be attended by the ombudsmen of European countries along with local and foreign academics, Anadolu Agency reported.

In a session titled “Ombudsman Practices in Europe - The Relation with Administration and Jurisdiction” under the chairmanship of Hikmet Sami Türk, a professor of law and a former justice minister; Spanish Ombudsman Soledad Becerril Bustamante; French Deputy Ombudsman Maryvonne Lyazid; Federal Ombudsman of Belgium Guido Schuermans; Danish Parliamentary Ombudsman Jorgen Steen Sorensen and Greek Ombudsman Calliope Spanou will relay information about the practices in their countries.

Wide range of issues

In the second session of the symposium entitled “Ombudsman Institution, Law Practice and Functionality,” topics such as the place of the institute of the ombudsman among the separation of powers and what should be understood from the exercise of judicial power, the evaluation of institutions related to human rights, along with the institute of the ombudsman in terms of their duties and authorities, will all be discussed.

The session will also focus on the main criteria in the distinction of the concept of public service and private law legal persons conducting public service and the scope of duty and authority of the institute of the ombudsman as an important step in the change from the principle of the state of law to the principle of the rule of law, as well as a comparative analysis of individual-oriented administrative practices.

Turkey’s first ever chief ombudsman, Mehmet Nihat Ömeroğlu, began actively working in his post in late March after taking his oath in December 2012.

“Administration under the spotlight” is how Ömeroğlu described the function of the Office of the Ombudsman at the time.