The role of ombuds - a comparative perspective

This chapter considers the development of the ombuds over the past two decades from a comparative perspective across a range of legal systems. The ombuds model has evolved and developed from a public sector institution that aims to scrutinize and improve governments’ accountability, to a model that provides dispute resolution for complex sets of problems. Distinctive types of ombuds have evolved to cater for different types of problems. I discuss three of these categories (1) public sector ombuds; (2) private sector ombuds; and (3) in-house or organizational ombuds. I argue that the ombuds is best understood by adopting a wide-ranging vision. It is not to be seen as an imposed or directly transplanted set of rules, but is best understood as a framework providing a set of tools with the ability to fit into an existing dispute resolution system or to become part of a developing one.