The tasks of the Austrian Ombudsman Board
The Austrian Ombudsman Board is an independent, state supervisory body. Its tasks are defined in the Federal Constitution and the Ombudsman Act.
Ombudsman Board supports legislators
The actual impact of laws on people's everyday lives often only becomes apparent when regulations are applied by the authorities. Sometimes burdens arise that were not intended by the legislator. The Austrian Ombudsman Board is committed to ensuring that the legislator corrects mistakes by proposing amendments to the law.
You can find an overview of its legislative recommendations in the Ombudsman Board's annual report.
Citizen-centred - free of charge - independent.
Anyone can turn to the Austrian Ombudsman Board. There are no costs involved in dealing with a complaint. The Ombudsman Board investigates every admissible complaint. If maladministration is found, it informs about the result of the investigation and urges its remedy. The Ombudspersons exercise their office independently.
Protection and promotion of human rights
The Austrian Ombudsman Board is also the "House of Human Rights" and has the task of protecting and promoting the observance of human rights in Austria within the framework of a UN mandate. Together with its commissions, the Ombudsman Board monitors all institutions in which freedom is deprived or restricted. It also inspects facilities for people with disabilities and the exercise of direct command and coercive power by the administration, i.e. the work of the police, particularly during deportations and demonstrations.
Settlement of pensions of victims of children's homes
The Ombudsman Board also chairs the independent Pension Commission. The Pension Commission assesses applications for the award of a pension to victims of children’s homes in accordance with the Pensions for Victims of Children’s Homes Act (HOG). It is responsible for those persons who have not yet been recognised as victims of violence and who suffered violence in a home, foster family or in an infirmary, psychiatric institution or sanatorium between 1945 and 1999. The same applies to persons who were victims of an act of violence in a private institution, provided the referral was made by a child and youth welfare institution.