The Ombudsperson can:
1. Investigate a potential violation of your human rights
If the investigation of your complaint results in a proved breach of your fundamental rights and freedoms, the Ombudsperson notifies the public administration body, against the activities, decision or inactivity of which the complaint has been submitted, along with a proposal of measures to be adopted. The Ombudsperson may not interfere in court decisions, is not a party to the proceedings, may not file a proposal for proceedings before a court, no decisions are delivered to it, and has no right to file remedies.
Despite the fact that the opinion of the Ombudsperson is not formally binding on public authorities, they are obliged to inform the Ombudsperson of their opinion of the results of his or her investigation of the complaint and about the adopted measures within 20 days from the date of delivery of the Ombudsperson´s request.
2. Help to prevent future violations of a similar kind against you or other persons
If the Ombudsperson’s investigation reveals a problem in a law or the practice of public authorities he or she can propose changes to them to prevent future violations.
3. Help you to understand your human rights and explain how better to defend them
If you are not sure whether your human rights have been violated or whether the Ombudsperson can investigate your case, you can email sekretariat@vop.gov.sk, office@vop.gov.sk or call +421 2 323 63 701 the Ombudsperson’s Office before you make an application.
The Ombudsperson can help you with various human rights related questions, but keep in mind that he or she cannot act as your lawyer, give unlimited free legal aid or represent you in court.
The Ombudsperson cannot:
The Ombudsperson can only fulfil those tasks which are outlined under the Act on Public Defender of Rights. Therefore, he/she cannot:
- revoke or change decisions of courts or state institutions
- examine the evidence in court cases
- punish state officials or private individuals
- give you compensation for a violation of your human rights
- provide legal advice not related to your human rights
- write applications to courts or state institutions or write other legal documents for you
- represent you in the European Court of Human Rights or other international body
- solve disputes among natural persons