The Public Defender of Rights is an institution established by Act No. 349/1999 Coll., on the Public Defender of Rights. The draft act was approved by the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic on 4 November 1999 and by the Senate of the Czech Republic on 8 November 1999 [1].

History and development of competences

The first Czech ombudsman, in 2000, was JUDr. Otakar Motejl, with Mgr. Anna Šabatová as deputy ombudsman [1]. Since 2001 the ombudsman has protected persons against unlawful or otherwise improper conduct or inaction of administrative authorities and other institutions [1]. In 2006 the agenda was extended for the first time to include oversight of the restriction of personal liberty. From the same year the ombudsman has been the national preventive mechanism, which protects persons deprived of liberty from ill-treatment [1]. In 2009 the ombudsman was entrusted with the role of the national body for equal treatment and protection against discrimination [1]. Since 2011 the ombudsman has monitored, as part of the prevention of ill-treatment, the detention of foreigners and the enforcement of administrative expulsion [1].

In 2010–2013 the office was held by JUDr. Pavel Varvařovský, with RNDr. Jitka Seitlová as deputy. From 2014 the institution was headed by Mgr. Anna Šabatová, Ph.D., with JUDr. Stanislav Křeček as her deputy [1]. Since January 2018 the ombudsman has also served as the monitoring body for the implementation of rights under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and assists foreigners who are citizens of the European Union and live or work in the Czech Republic [1]. From 2020 the ombudsman was JUDr. Stanislav Křeček, with Mgr. Monika Šimůnková as deputy, and from 2022 the post of deputy ombudsman was held by JUDr. Vít Alexander Schorm [1].

Creation of the children's ombudsman and the National Human Rights Institution

Act No. 77/2025 Coll. established the function of the children's ombudsman. JUDr. Vít Alexander Schorm became the first deputy of the children's ombudsman. At the same time the National Human Rights Institution was created, whose main activity is the protection and independent promotion of human rights [1]. On 6 March 2026 the deputies elected the historically first children's ombudsman, Mgr. Martin Beneš. On 31 March 2026, after taking the oath before the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, he assumed the office of defender of children's rights [1].

Filling the office and election

The ombudsman and the children's ombudsman are elected by the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic from candidates proposed by the President of the Czech Republic, the Senate of the Czech Republic and the Czech Rectors' Conference. The term of office is six years, and neither the ombudsman nor the children's ombudsman can be dismissed. Both have one common deputy, who is likewise elected by the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. The ombudsman may transfer part of his or her competence to the deputy [2]. According to the institution's website, the office of Public Defender of Rights is held by JUDr. Eva Kostolanská, and the deputy Public Defender of Rights and defender of children's rights is JUDr. Vít Alexander Schorm [2].

International context of the institution

The office of the first "real" ombudsman was established in the 18th century by the Swedish king Charles XII. From 1713 this official was to ensure above all the proper conduct of royal officials. From 1809 the institution of the ombudsman was firmly anchored in the Swedish constitution as a body of parliament that supervises how judges, government and other officials comply with laws and other legal regulations. The institution of the ombudsman spread most widely in the 20th century, especially after the Second World War, when it arose in various forms in almost a hundred states of the world [1].

Sources

  1. Kancelář veřejného ochránce práv — 31 March 2026
  2. Kancelář veřejného ochránce práv