AG/RES. 1601 (XXVIII-O/98)

SUPPORT FOR THE WORK OF DEFENDERS OF THE PEOPLE, DEFENDERS OF THE POPULATION, HUMAN RIGHTS ATTORNEYS, AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONERS (OMBUDSMEN) IN THE
CONTEXT OF STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY IN THE HEMISPHERE

(Resolution adopted at the fifth plenary session, held on June 3, 1998)

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the important work of defenders of the people, defenders of the population, human rights attorneys, and human rights commissioners in various countries of the Hemisphere, which has created impetus for establishing and implementing the institution of the ombudsman in all countries of the region;

BEARING IN MIND resolution AG/RES. 1505 (XXVII-O/97), in which the General Assembly recommended to the international community that it provide, as far as practicable, its valuable support in holding the Third Annual Congress of the Ibero-American Federation of Ombudsmen;

RECALLING that, in the aforementioned resolution, the organs of the inter-American system were urged to promote exchanges of experience among defenders of the people, defenders of the population, human rights attorneys, and human rights commissioners in the Hemisphere, within allocated resources approved in the program-budget and other resources;

CONSIDERING the content of the Plan of Action adopted at the Second Summit of the Americas and, in particular, the commitment to strengthen democracy, justice, and human rights, which are an essential priority for the Hemisphere; and

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the recent meeting of ombudsmen held in Antigua and Barbuda,

RESOLVES:

1. To reiterate its support for the work of ombudsmen, defenders of the people, defenders of the population, human rights attorneys, and human rights commissioners in the countries of the Hemisphere, which is essential to strengthening representative democracy, justice, human rights, and good governance.

2. To recommend to the member states that measures be taken, according to each country's legal system, to promote the political, administrative, and financial independence of defenders of the people, defenders of the population, human rights attorneys, and human rights commissioners in the member countries of the Hemisphere.

3. To recommend that those states that do not yet have such institutions consider the possibility of establishing them and setting them in motion, in the context of their existing legal and constitutional systems, and of according them autonomy and independence.

4. To encourage the governments and organs of the inter-American system to promote opportunities for dialogue among those institutions and the appropriate organs of the inter-American system.

5. To reaffirm the support of the inter-American community for the Ibero-American Federation of Ombudsmen, particularly for the holding of its Third Annual Congress, which will be held in Peru from September 6 to 9, 1998, and to give due attention to the recommendations issued at that Congress.