Institution of the Ombudsman is established by the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia as a commissioner of the Croatian Parliament.

The Ombudsman protects constitutional and legal rights of citizens in cases before the state administration and bodies vested with public powers; in cases before the Ministry of defence, including the Army forces and security services, before the local and regional self government as well as protects the right to local and regional self government.

In 2008 the Ombudsman was accredited as an „A“ status national human rights institution for protection and promotion of human rights by the International Coordinating Committee for Human Rights as an institution which meets to high extent the criteria of the Paris Principles (these are: independence guaranteed by constitution or law, autonomous status regarding the government, pluralistic membership, a broad mandate for protection and promotion of human rights, sufficient means for independent work and investigative powers).

By the entry into force of the Anti-discrimination Act on January 1st 2009 the Ombudsman's institution became the Central Equality Body. In order to liaise and cooperate with similar bodies within the European Union the Office of the Ombudsman was accepted as a member of EQUINET on January 1st 2009.  

Professional and administrative services for the Ombudsman are provided by the Office of the Ombudsman.

The allocation of funds necessary for functioning of the Office of the Ombudsman is apportioned in the annual budget of the Republic of Croatia.

Ombudsman has three deputies:

(from left to right)

Branko Tinodi, dipl. iur

Dejan Palić, dipl. iur.

Željko Thür, dipl. iur

The ombudsman and his deputies are elected by the Croatian Parliament for a term of eight ears.

Internal structure of the Office

How we operate

The Ombudsman is independent and autonomous in his work and nobody is entitled to give him instructions and orders on his work. He performs his duties in accordance with constitutional and legal provisions and international treaties on human rights and freedoms accepted by the Republic of Croatia.

All relevant data and information must be accessible to the Ombudsman.

According to the Act, the Ombudsman within his competences:

- Considers individual cases in which citizens' rights may be imperilled by action of governmental administration bodies, bodies vested with public powers or officials in such bodies when they deal with tasks ensuing within their respective competence.

- Considers other problems which may be of interest to the protection of the rights proclaimed by constitution and law, about which he has obtained information from other sources of knowledge (by means of public communication, etc.), if those problems refer to the wrong doing of state administrative bodies and legal entities vested with public powers.

The Ombudsman as a rule does not take action in cases during the course of  administrative and other proceedings.

While performing his duties the Ombudsman may:

- issue warnings, give notices, make proposals and give recommendations;
- propose the initiation of criminal, civil or discipline proceedings;
- inform the Croatian Parliament and the public if relevant bodies have not in a proper term taken measures in accordance with his recommendations;
- submit special reports to the Croatian Parliament and Ministry in competence on issues of major interest for protection of constitutional and legal rights;
- initiate amendments of laws regarding protection of the citizens' rights proclaimed by Constitution and law;
- inspect penal-correctional institutions and other institutions in which the freedom of movement is confined; 

The Ombudsman submits once a year a report on his activities to the Croatian Parliament.