From 2 to 4 September 2019, Albanian Ombudswoman Erinda Ballanca and her colleagues paid a study visit to the Office of the Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia. The purpose of the visit was to learn about the work of independent institutions within the human rights protection and promotion system in the Republic of Croatia, and to exchange examples of good practices, as well as challenges in the field of human rights protection and promotion.
During the meeting, the Ombudswoman and her associates introduced the guests from Albania to the competences and powers of the Ombudswoman, the procedure for the election of the Ombudsperson, the organisational structure of the Office, and the Ombudswoman’s practices, particularly in the areas of environmental protection, prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Given that the Office of the Albanian Ombudswoman is in the process of accreditation by the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), operating under the United Nations Human Rights Council, they were especially interested in the experience of the Croatian institution, whose A-status was reaffirmed in 2019.
During their study visit, the Albanian Ombudswoman and her colleagues also met with representatives of the Office of the Ombudswoman for Persons with Disabilities, the Ombudswoman for Gender Equality, and the Ombudswoman for Children. In addition, representatives of the Human Rights House, whose Programme Director Ivan Novosel is a member of the Human Rights Advisory Board of the Ombudswoman, presented the cooperation between civil society organisations and the Office of the Ombudswoman.