The ombudsman: the 1st year of his activity

The author deals with the experience of the Pub­lic Defender of Rights, Czech variant of ombudsman institutions, during the first year of its existence. His comments are mainly based on the first annual report on activities submitted by the Public Defender of Ri­ghts by the end of March.
The first part is devoted to the structure and brief survey of content of the report. The report consists of four parts: I. Foundation of the institution, preparati­on of material and personal base and activities outside the competence 2. Performing the competence 3. Selec­ted experience gained from the activities of the Public Defender of Rights and suggestion of some legislati­ve amendments. 4. Conclusion. Two supplements are added: The Regulation of the Department of the Public Dejender of Rights and the Rules on Organisation of the Department of the Public Defender of Rights.
The second part analyses the practical experience with the application and interpretation of the Law on the Public Defender of Rights (No. 349/1999 Coll. of Laws), mainly in the light of the report. The author explains that he selected only some problems he found interesting or questinable. He raises, e.g., the issue of limitation of competence of the Public Defender of Ri­ghts in relation to self-government.
Though generally satisfaction with the Law on the Public Defender of Rights is expressed, the report makes some suggestions de lege ferenda. These amen­dments are analysed in the part three.
The author concludes that the Public Defender of Rights proved to be useful institution which covers so­me gaps in mechanisms to defend the rights in the Czech Republic.