Outreach through the eyes of Ombudsmen around the world
On this page
Outreach through the eyes of Ombudsmen around the world
The National ombudsman of the Netherlands believes in the importance of learning from one another. That is why, in collaboration with Ombudsman institutions worldwide, a paper has been written on the topic of outreach. Reaching out to groups and communities that do not actively engage with the Ombudsman’s services, but for whom those services could be highly valuable.
As an Ombudsman, you operate between government and citizens, aiming to improve the relationship between the two. Reaching diverse groups and communities within society is therefore crucial, particularly those for whom participation in society is not self-evident and comes with challenges. Such as people in vulnerable living conditions, whose voices are not being heard. Too often, these groups are forgotten, left behind, or even systematically disadvantaged by policy. It is the Ombudsman's responsibility to bring the needs and interests of these groups to the government’s attention and to make them a priority. This is essential for promoting an inclusive society.
Therefore it is essential for Ombudsmen around the world to stay well connected with these groups and communities. The more consciously an Ombudsman directs their strategies and methods toward reaching those who need them most, the more they can help foster inclusivity and improve the relationship between the government and its citizens.
This Best Practice Paper presents a global exchange of practices among participating ombuds institutions regarding outreach. The purpose of this exchange is to provide ombuds institutions with new insights and to inspire them to better reach different groups and communities within their societies. The paper is based on contributions from ombuds institutions across the globe. Seventeen countries, including The National ombudsman of the Netherlands, have shown how they reach groups and communities in vulnerable positions.
The paper focuses on three key questions:
What does outreach mean to the participating ombuds institutions?
Whom do they want to reach out to, and how do they identify these groups or communities?
How do they organize outreach? And what key factors do they consider when choosing their methods?
This paper is intended as a source of inspiration to continue reflecting together on outreach, to further exchange ideas, and potentially to develop new practices.
