The 20th anniversary of the establishment of the institution of the Ombudsman in Kragujevac was marked today at the solemn academy held at the “Princely Serbian Theatre” in this city. The State Secretary, Maja Mačužić Puzić, has made her address at this event on behalf of the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Aleksandar Martinović, PhD, pointing out that the first Ombudsman in the Republic of Serbia was elected precisely in Kragujevac, as a local Ombudsman, and that to date this institute has been established in municipalities and cities that cover approximately half of the territory of our country in terms of territory and population.
She has stressed that the institution of the Ombudsman, as an important element in countries based on democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and good governance, is widespread today, and that, most importantly, it retained its basic function – the protection of human rights.
“The establishment of local Ombudsmen made it possible for this institution to be more accessible to citizens, and had contributed to greater and more efficient protection of civil rights at the local level. The role of the local Ombudsman is to, with the power of his personal authority that he enjoys in society, and in a special alliance with the public, contribute to the exercising and protection of human rights and freedoms, trying to eliminate or prevent illegal, irregular and bad behaviour of the administrative authorities”, Mačužić Puzić has said, adding that impartiality and independence are the most important principles of his action.
She has also recalled that the law foresees that two or more Local Self-Government Units may reach a decision on the establishment of a joint local Ombudsman, which, as she said, increases protection and improves human and minority rights and basic freedoms, and at the same time establishes more effective mutual cooperation and support of local Ombudsmen.
Today’s solemn academy was opened by the Mayor of Kragujevac, Nikola Dašić, and in the continuation of the event, the Protector of Citizens of the Republic of Serbia, Zoran Pašalić, the Local Ombudsman of the City of Kragujevac, Jelena Milivojević, as well as the President of the Association of Ombudsmen of Serbia, Jovan Knežević, have addressed the attendees.
Photo gallery – source: Tanjug and Lazar Lazarević
