Only by a close co-operation with the media can Ombudsmen achieve that their will is respected, said Slovenian Ombudsman Matjaz Hanzek at the annual meeting of European members of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) on Saturday. The final day of the conference thus focused on the independence of Ombudsmen in relation to the media in which the participants touched upon relationships to their respective media as potential violators of human rights.
Hanzek also highlighted the role of an Ombudsman as a supervisor of the media and therefore pointed out that a close link-up between the media and "guardians of human rights" can affect the efficiency of such supervision.

The significance of an Ombudsman's work lies in the supervision of the power of the government and state institutions, said Hanzek while pointing out that assuring the correct and fair dealing of the government towards the individual is an especially important role played by the Ombudsman in Slovenia.

Some see an Ombudsman as the fourth branch of government, which puts additional obligations on the post. This, however, would require appropriate pressure tools to an Ombudsman's disposal, said Hanzek.

The legislation puts a lot of demands in front of an Ombudsman, but no formal power. Ombudsman's work is thus seen as an additional tool outside legislation and has no decision making competence, pointed out Hanzek.

Ombudsmen can encourage individuals to protect their rights themselves. Through media, individuals can thus receive information on Ombudsman's potential discovering of mismanagement of the state and learn what their rights are, said Hanzek.

Other speakers that took the floor on Saturday also agreed that the relationship between Ombudsmen and the media is important, but that there are certain limitations to be taken into account.

Some media are also violators of human rights, said Hanzek. This is especially apparent in their dissemination of hate speech, intolerance, discrimination, and violation of personal integrity by trespassing the private lives of individuals and publicising their intimate stories," said Hanzek.

Belgium's Ombudsman Herman Wuyts thus pointed out that his office does not maintain close co-operation with the media as they are always looking for scandalous stories.

Malta's Ombudsman Joseph Sammut outlined that the most important characteristic of Ombudsmen is their independence. Without a true independence from the government as well as other political powers, Ombudsmen cannot be autonomous in his decisions, he added.

The 62 European Ombudsmen and their representatives from 27 countries, who wrapped up their regular annual conference on Saturday, were received on Friday by outgoing Slovenian President Milan Kucan.