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The concept of Ombudsmen is recognized in the law of member states with different names such as defenders of the people, defenders of the population, human rights attorneys, and human rights commissioners.

The General Assembly has adopted resolutions on this matter since 1997.  Moreover, we may find reference to the support for the work of defenders of the people and the strengthening of the national human rights system at the Plan of Action of the Third Summit of the Americas, held in Quebec City, Canada in 2000, which referred to the importance of strengthening judicial systems and national human rights institutions.

In 2006, the General Assembly has reiterated its support [AG/RES. 2221 (XXXVI-O/06)] with the work done by the Ombudsmen and requested to the member states that do not yet have institutions of the kind that they consider the possibility of establishing and operating them within the framework of their legal order.  Moreover, the General Assembly  reiterate to the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs of the Permanent Council “that it should consider inviting the institutions of the kind to which this resolution refers to participate in the dialogue to be conducted among the member states on human rights topics, for the reason that their presence is necessary.