Task

The Ombudsman's primary responsibility is to investigate, upon receipt of a complaint, whether the conduct of an administrative authority or, where applicable, that of a public official should be classified as proper or improper.

In addition, the Ombudsman may initiate an investigation on his own initiative, for example, where there is reason to believe that a governmental function is structurally not being carried out properly (complaints submitted by members of the public, should be regarded as a signal from society about how the quality of governance is perceived). The Ombudsman may also act upon his own observations or information received from society concerning governmental conduct that has not (yet) resulted in a formal complaint (for example where problems arise due to changes in government policy).

The Ombudsman's principal functions can be placed in six categories:

  • Providing supplementary individual legal protection against government conduct;
  • Serving as a reporting point for fraud and corruption;
  • The intervening function;
  • Promoting high standards of quality management within government administration;
  • Strengthening the supervisory function of Parliament;
  • Fulfilling an information and referral function for the public.